Taking a Real Vacation?

Are you on vacation?  I bet not.

I bet that you only think you are on vacation and that you’re just going through the motions.

Oh yes, you are away from your desk.  You have driven or flown and traveled with your family to some hot summer spot.  The kids are playing, you’re doing a lot of eating-out and sightseeing and so, of course, you have convinced yourself that you are on vacation.  But you’re not.

Why not?

Because a real vacation begins in the mind, moves from the heart, and energizes the spirit.  And for most vacationers, that’s just not happening.

HOW TO TAKE A REAL VACATION

1.    Be There.  Hello!  Are you there?  Where’s your mind wandering off to, work, contracts, deadlines, negotiations, networking, cost evaluations, the bottom line?  STOP!  Tell your mind to vacate the work premises.  Truly turn it off and get away and be there with wife, son, daughter, family, and friends.  Turn off, tune in, and tone down.

2.    Decide whose vacation this is—yours, mine, or ours?  Is this vacation for you and your spouse or you and the kids’ or all of the above?  Decide upfront, here and now whose vacation this is and own it.  If this vacation is mainly designed for the kids, then keep it that way and be faithful to them for their sake.  Focus on them.  Be there for them and with them.  Listen to them.  Discern their wants and desires before they even have to tell you, if you can.  Contrary to the way you may feel, they want more than your money and the gadgets and thingamajigs that you can buy them.  They want YOU, your attention, your understanding, your approval, your presence, your love.  If it’s a vacation for just you and your spouse, well, don’t be distracted.  Need I say more?

3.    Decide your spending limits ahead of time but allow for unexpected splurging for the pure joy of it.  Don’t dig a money hole, that is, do not turn your vacation into a frightening debt experience, come this Halloween season.  Plan, save, budget, and enjoy within the limits of your affordability.  But plan to spend and to spend with a free heart and fearless indulgence.  If you’ve prepared well (we’re talking about money management here, which is a whole different subject) you should be able to enjoy yourself with utter abandonment according to your financial boundaries and limitations.  Yes, it can be done.

4.    Don’t rush.  Slow down and focus.  Don’t try to do it all.  Don’t come home needing a vacation from your vacation.  This means you’ve tried to do too much, too quickly, and with too short of time.  Be realistic with your vacation time, which includes time for traveling to and from, dealing with jetlag, and other time consuming expenditures such as waiting in line for your favorite ride or eating spot.  Since you can’t see it all, taste it all, grab it all, or take it ALL in, choose carefully and allow plenty of time to take in and absorb those once in a lifetime experiences that build the kind of memories that you truly want to savor.

5.    Decide ahead of time if this is an action vacation or a more passive vacation.  Do you want to DO or BE on this vacation?  Be clear as to what you want to “accomplish” in your vacation.  For some a great vacation means doing a lot of walking, hiking, diving, surfing, boating and what not, doing things.  For others a great vacation means simply “being” in the moment, sitting, observing, contemplating, reading and/or singing along to their favorite music.  Everybody is different, even among family members.  It’s best that the family negotiate this one through, ahead of time, and plan accordingly.

A real vacation should serve to re-energize you, giving you an opportunity to strengthen your most important relationships, family and friends, and should provide your heart and soul with a refreshing and renewing spirit.  It won’t just happen.  You must prepare and plan for it.  Begin by simply turning off all your electronic gadgets that keep you tied to your office or desk, your company or business.  You are on vacation, so keep that boundary sacrosanct for the sake of your own sanity and for the pleasure of your family and ENJOY!