When was the last time you took a vacation? A real vacation? One where you relaxed on a beach, went skiing or visited a foreign city…without checking your phone every five minutes?
Whenever that was, my guess is it’s probably been too long.
I truly believe that vacations are necessary to regroup and de-stress from the everyday world. A wonderful colleague put it perfectly: A vacation is a feeling, a belief, a perspective. It’s about how you see yourself living. One can be at work while on a vacation and another person may be on vacation while at work – it all depends on the perspective!
Family Cruising
I can tell you exactly when my last real vacation was. In late July, I went on a cruise with a small group of my family members including my 81 year-old father and his wife of 8 years, who are both in great shape, and my ex-mother-in-law, who is 85 years old and walks with a cane. What an adventure!!
We all took a boat ride along the coast of Haiti and saw some of the local fishermen harvesting crabs to sell later. Their boats were wooden with oars made from trees and sails made from clothing – not luxurious, for sure!
The next port was Jamaica. For those who have known me for a while, you know that I have attended both the Summer Olympics and the Winter Olympics in the US. So what I did in Jamaica should come as no surprise. (Cue the music of the Disney movie, “Cool Running.”) I went on the bobsled track! Yes, I went on a bobsled through the jungles of Jamaica, driving myself at the fastest speed possible. And not just once, but three times!
Next up was the Cayman Islands. What a change between the countries of Haiti and Jamaica. The hotels were gorgeous and the houses were painted in bright colors. The crystal blue waters were home to Stingray City – a wildlife area in the sea that allows humans to interact with these wonderful, soft and very safe animals. Besides holding a stingray, I also received a massage on the back from its large wing and even kissed it. Not sure if it was a male or a female, but it was very friendly!
The final port was Cozumel, which is known for its Mayan ruins inland and tropical waters at sea. My dad, his wife and I bypassed the ruins tour – six hours on a bus in the heat of the day did not sound fun – and instead went on a snorkeling trip. Floating peacefully along in the warm waters, we saw many tropical fish, including angel fish, a lion fish, grouper, snapper, and so many others.
So Why Am I Telling You About My Vacation?
The first reason is to encourage you to go on a vacation! Far too often we make excuses about why we can’t – health, family, money, time. But that’s exactly what they are – excuses. If it’s something you want to do, you must simply find a way to do it.
My mother-in-law is a great example. Even though she’s 85 and relies on a cane, she was able to walk the entire length of the cruise ship – over 1,100 feet in length – and made her way around the towns when we arrived at the ports. She did not let her age or her lack of full mobility get in the way.
Similarly, my dad and his wife went on the snorkeling trip and enjoyed seeing the gorgeous tropical fish. I even met an 86-year-old woman who did the zip-line in Haiti! Why not? One is only as old as one feels and everyone on the ship was young enough to participate in whatever they wanted.
The second reason is to remind you that vacations are very, very important. Too many business owners think they don’t have the time, that their business will fall apart while they’re away. But if you’ve spent time building a reliable support team (of employees and/or contractors), you can take a vacation knowing that your business will continue and not grind to a halt.
If you haven’t yet done that, start the process today! Because I can assure you, business person to business person, you need a vacation. It’s not just a nice thing to do. You need it. Vacations help ensure that you don’t get into a rut and they keep you from getting get burned out.
Many corporations in this country require vacations for their employees. In Europe, most countries provide their workers with the entire month of August as vacation, in addition to other holidays. Why? They know that employees need time to refresh, regroup, reconnect and become re-inspired.
So what are you waiting for? Schedule your next vacation today!
