I’m outta here.
I’m taking a spring break vacation – a whole week off from work.
I practice yoga, and for the last class of every three-month session, my teacher Linda schedules a restorative practice. We work through a few active poses, then spend the majority of the class prone, propped up with bolsters, blankets and chairs, relaxing our bodies and minds.
This spring break is my version of a restorative.
It’s time to recharge the batteries, fill up the old gas tank, power down to power up again. Once I hit the “Publish” key on this post, you won’t read anything else from me until next week.
Here’s why I’m heeding my own advice and taking a vacation, and why other hard-working freelancers should too:
1. It’s way over due. I vowed to take time off between Christmas and New Year’s, then ended up working almost all the way through.
2. After a hard year of work, not giving myself more time off wasn’t a good idea. My last vacation was in early August. Now I’m exhausted to the point of resenting the work that I usually love.
3. I want some down time with my family. Around my kids, I’m usually in work mode – if I’m not writing and editing, I’m driving the carpool, doing the laundry, making dinner, nagging about homework. Going on vacation means I get to be in fun mode for a whole week, and my kids deserve to see that side of me every once in a while.
4. Why work if you can’t enjoy the fruits of your labor? My job helps pay the bills, but also lets us afford things like vacations – so why I am not taking more of them?
5. I’m going on a train trip. That means instead of driving I can read a book. Or even two. I can’t wait.
6. I’m leaving my computer at home. I can’t remember the last time I went on vacation and didn’t bring a laptop with me. OK, so I’m bringing my phone and an iPad so I can check messages and take calls if I need to, but other than that, I’m not doing anything work related.
7. I’m going someplace I’ve never been. It’s an adventure! As someone who feels more comfortable sticking with places and things I know, it’s good to push myself out of my comfort zone to see what I’m capable of. That applies to work and life.
8. I’m trying some things I haven’t done before. That’s part of the adventure. On this trip, that could involve snowshoeing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling and maybe even dog sledding. I’ll let you know.
9. I need a break from my social media accounts. I’ve been on a self-imposed Facebook diet during Lent and discovered that I can catch up with everything my friends are doing only checking in once a day for five minutes. Taking a one-week break won’t kill me. As for Twitter – that’ll be harder. And what will all my new Pinterest followers think? Not sure, but the world will have to live without my updates for a week, and vice versa.
10. I know I’ll be more productive next week. I’m coming home to an overflowing schedule of projects and deadlines over the next two months, including kicking off the 2012 WordCount Blogathon (which you’ll find out more about soon enough). I’m counting on time away to help me get ready for that mentally and physically.
See you on the other side.
Have fun! You definitely deserve it. 🙂
hmmmm but why 10 reasons to do it?
I’m in Mexico for a month. With computer, but doing no Writer’s Clinic posts while I’m gone; just a separate one on what it’s like to spend a month in San Miguel de Allende. Lovely. Batteries slowly recharching.
Have a wonderful time disconnecting from all of this and reconnecting with your family and relaxing.
Isn’t unplugging refreshing? I have one place I go every summer that is devoid of Internet connection or cell phone reception. It’s the best darned week of my whole year, too.
Enjoy. 🙂
I can’t wait to hear about all your adventures.