“Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work, your judgment will be surer.”
–Leonardo da Vinci
It’s that time of year. Time to pack it in, pack it up, for a (hopefully extended!) vacation! For me, it’s one of the most stressful times of the year. But I make it so. I worry about getting my work completed and in order before I leave, worry about getting all my bills paid, stopping the newspaper and mail, answering all of my emails. Often, I worry about what’s going on while I’m gone. But I still go. I figure I can worry just as well while on a beach and eating lobster.
We need this time to step away and regroup. We need fun and play and relaxation in our lives, and because our lives are so structured, we don’t often allow ourselves time for this on a regular basis. That’s why a vacation, even if it’s a “stay-cation,” is so important to our well-being. We can think about issues and problems in a clearer, more relaxed state of mind, and come up with viable, creative, out-of-the-box solutions. Or we can choose to put everything out of our mind, and simply forget what we do on an everyday basis, until it’s time to return to our daily routine.
Don’t ignore the calling for relaxation. Give this gift to yourself. Your body, your mind, your spirit will appreciate it. And the more we allow ourselves this time, the more productive and better our lives will be. That may seem counter-intuitive, but it’s not. I always seem to work more efficiently after coming back to work after a break. Problems don’t seem so overwhelming. We have a better attitude about things; our demeanors are softer. Stuff that would normally bother us now rolls off our backs.
Even if this is just temporary, how wonderful it is while it lasts!
Call to action: What summer plans have you made? How will relaxation and play come into your life? As always, let me know in the comments below!
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