Have you really taken a vacation?

I just returned from a one week beach vacation with my family at Schroon Lake, an exciting resort community nestled in the Adirondack Mountains. This has been a family tradition the 1st week of August for many, many years. We all start getting real excited about it….in February when the snow and cold are “getting old” in Central NY. We start talking and dreaming about unplugging and “doing nothing” except rest, rejuvenation and connection with the ones we love the most. The beauty of this “remote” vacation is there was no cellular service so I am truly unable to take calls or access the internet via my air card. Wow, what an experience. At first, it felt somewhat paralyzing, not being connected to the outside world. Don’t get me wrong, Cell service was available if I drove a mile or two towards town, which we did a handful of times throughout the week, but I am please to find at those times I had absolutely no interest in looking at my phone or email messages on my blackberry.

Interestingly though, when discussing vacations and time off with attorneys over the last ten years, it is sad to learn most all of us fail to have a real vacation. How is a real vacation defined? Well, it’s being present with the people you are vacationing with; whether it’s your family, loved ones, or friends. You see, running to your Blackberry, cell phone, or internet becomes a place of comfort, but what’s at risk is really far more than what you may be missing when you shut them down. What’s at risk is the relationship you have with the people closest to you. Your disregard for them in favor of a business has an impact, makes them feel less worthy of you than your co‑workers, clients, and worse yet, the dreaded list serves we feel compelled to reply to. There is no greater danger to us as individuals than the loss of the respect of our families and ones we love.

So, when you go on vacation are you taking calls? How often are you on the internet? I must admit, this past vacation I learned there was wireless internet in the house. I couldn’t resist and found myself replying to email. After 2 hours I shook myself and realized what a wasted opportunity of time I could have been with my family. The computer went off and did not turn on again.

So, as you take your next vacation, or better yet, when you leave the office at the end of the day, consider the possibility, the office leaves you and you are able to be present to the people important in your life. The truth is, too many times people important to us are gone because of divorce, death, or some other catastrophe or worse yet, they are still there but they are hurt, wounded, and sad at their loss of real connection with us. So, I welcome you to have a real vacation with the people you love the most, and you may discover a full, new appreciation, and believe it or not, in my experience, you will be more effective at work when you do return. When you are relaxed and free from stress you are more focused and more creative. Focus and creativity are key components to success. One of the best ways to regain your balance, focus and get excited about your practice again is to take a real vacation. So if you haven’t yet taken a vacation this summer, I encourage you to get something on the books for the Fall before all the holiday and year end planning “rush” starts. Take pleasure and happy vacationing!