The Working Vacation

We seem to have a theme going on about work/life balance on the blog, so I thought I'd put in my two cents. I like to work even in my spare time, and therefore my life is in balance (it's just the balance I choose, not someone else's idea of balance).  For example, last week I was on vacation, yet I did about an hour or more of work each day, and admittedly put in one 5-hour day.  But, the fact that it kept things under control and that I could at any time decide not to work, made it feel like a vacation.

However, what I want to write about is a different kind of working vacation.  This weekend, after getting back from France I decided to take a real working vacation.   (Yes, I fibbed on my out-of-office email - email overload tip number 9 from an earlier posting was to tell people that you're not getting back until a full day or two after you actually return.)

The plan was to work all weekend, but I was not going to do any sort of work that I didn't want to do (for the record, that's anything to do with answering emails, scheduling, logistics, or finances ... ).  I was also going to do whatever work I felt like, when I felt like it.  And, I planned on turning a blind eye to all housework and vowed not to exercise if the mood didn't strike me.  Next, I took off my watch.  My other sign of a true vacation:  Eat when I'm hungry, sleep when I'm tired and have absolutely nothing on the agenda and nowhere that I have to be.   

Then over the next 48 hours, I watched a few terribly appalling but strangely engaging reality shows,  one fabulously fun and romantic chick flick (The Holiday), churned out reams of creative writing, did some research for a new survey, took random phone calls from some of my most brilliant friends (actually took the time to curl up in a chair and chat with them ... all resulting in fabulous brainstorms for everyone's business and life as well as a few good belly laughs). I even had a spontaneous dinner and walk on the beach with a pal I've been trying to connect with for months - but our schedules had been too busy.

So, my verdict on the "working vacation?"  A whopping success both for business and my mental well-being.  Tomorrow, I'll wake up to schedules, bills, unanswered emails, dirty dishes, laundry, but also to volumes of blog content, articles, outlines and with a few big decisions made because I was finally able to clear my head.

Comments

[Katie]

Love it. I am currently in a working vacation, to be with my hubby as he visits his family. This moment finds me in a Caribou snuggled away, trying to get three projects done, all involving design. So as long as my iPod has a cord to plug into, I'm peachy. Then, when I'm done, whenever I decide that is, I will feel free. Free on the 4th of July. :)