Taking A Break
By Annie King
This month Kurt and I are focusing on the idea of vacation. The word vacation can come with a lot of different meanings. I have even heard people talk about the difference between a vacation and a trip. I have always used these terms interchangeably. The delineation that is made is that a vacation involves rest and a break from doing whereas a trip is traveling and doing things. Which means when Kurt and I go on vacation with our adult children we are actually going on a trip. A week packed full of tours, museums, events, and whatever else we can fit in. We like to joke and say,” we have to go back to work to rest after our vacation,” or I should say trip.
Now that the kids are grown, and we have more flexibility in our schedule we have begun enjoying the relaxation of vacationing. This can look different for everyone. So, whether you find your peace on the sand staring at the vastness of the ocean, sitting outside in the morning hearing the birds or seeing the mountains from your cabin’s front porch, it is important to build these moments into your life. For Kurt and I rest comes now in the quiet mornings outside our camper, drinking a cup of coffee and easing into our day.
What if getting away for an extended time is not an option? What then? Maybe its finances, maybe it is a job or the schedules of children that make taking a vacation or going on a trip impossible right now. That may be a reality for you, but it doesn’t mean you don’t need some down time, some time to recharge, a little time to do nothing without the guilt.
A recent guest essay in the New York Times entitled, “Don’t Feel Guilty About Working on Vacation or Vacationing at Work,” written by Laura Vanderkam, points to the fact that as American’s we are really bad at taking time off. This essay appeared in the same edition as an article on productivity and how companies are using AI to evaluate their employee’s productivity. It is interesting to me that both of these were included in the same paper. Think about it we have two competing values here. The value of work and productivity and the value of rest. Vanderkam believes the guilt we tend to feel about taking time off goes way back to the Puritan work ethic. We need a break, but we feel guilty if we take one. And since we are supposed to be producing all the time and fear our job security may be riding on our productivity, we find ourselves answering emails and making phone calls even when we are supposed to be off work.
What is the answer in this crazy, busy, fast paced life? One answer may be to start to think of time off differently. Maybe we are not going to be able to get a way for a week, but what could we do, or this case not do, in an afternoon that would be restful, rejuvenating? We could go for a walk in the woods, we could read a book under a tree with a glass of iced tea, we could play a board game with some friends, we could dig in the dirt and plant some spring bulbs, we could ride a bike, go to a museum, the list is endless. It is good to remember what is relaxing to one person could be work for another so no judgment here. Find what fills you, what gives you energy and make time for it. Find 10 min, or an hour or an afternoon. Just make sure that you leave your work and immerse yourself in whatever it is that moves you.
What if you don’t even know what you are interested in? What if you don’t know what brings you joy and helps you feel more connected to yourself? Well, I say great! That means you get to try all sorts of things and pay attention to how you feel. You become a scientist and gather data on what gives you energy. And again, no judgment here. If you feel good and energized by cleaning out the hall closet and getting rid of unneeded things, then wonderful! If taking your dog to the dog park is a quick vacation, awesome! If heading to the art museum in Columbus is your jam, sweet! Just find ways to step away from work and step towards fun, vacationing in smaller bursts of time.
And if you make it to the ocean, the mountains, a big city then that is an even richer reward because in your smaller, regular vacations have helped you to savor the moments.