Learning to Vacate

I am one of the worst vacationers ever! I struggle to “turn off” wherever I am, regardless if I’m sitting in my car after having just left the office moments ago or sitting on the sandy beach with my family.

It doesn’t help that I’m involved in a number of things that require a lot of my constant attention – being apart of two successful and growing startups that are launching new products and initiatives as well as being personally invested in a number of executive coaching relationships keeps me attached to my work unlike anything else.

Part of this just comes with the territory and there’s little I can do at times on that front; many of you know this just as intimately as I do as you are starting up your own ventures, lead businesses, or even entertaining a small on-the-side startup while keeping that 9-to-5 alive!

So what can we do about it? How can we be better at turning off our digital lives and enjoying the very present moment? How is it possible to have a life outside of our work and still very positive and encouraged about the direction of our projects even when we’re not there?

Well, unlike many topics where I have a lot to say and suggest I honestly have very little to give, other than finding (or crafting) an incredible team(s) to work with and marrying an incredible person who will partner with you through this incredible rough existence!

What I can say is that I’m still learning what it means to go “on vacation” and am still learning how to practically vacate the work that I do (and love) every single day and engage in something entirely different, such as doing completely nothing, sitting, existing, resting, and enjoying silence.

The goal isn’t to find that perfect solution as it pertains to vacationing well and I believe is more than just finding that so-called “balance,” – I believe it’s more than that; I think it has to do with finding a personal peace with the tension that will always (and I repeat always) exist in your life as it relates to work and rest.

Finding a rhythm that’s manageable, that’s reasonable for you, and doesn’t harm those that count on you and your leadership and investment, is probably the best goal that one might have.

It’s also worth nothing that no one will be able to necessarily guarantee that they can teach you this based on their experience and personal methodology – part of solving the tension is actually you having to struggle through it and no one can do that for you.