Vacation, Staycation and A Nice Pedicure
American workers get an average of 12 paid days of leave yearly. Many other countries, including Germany and the United Kingdom, get 20 day and the French get 30 days.
A study in the Journal of Occupation Health indicates that these vacations days are good for our health. But the same study notes the positive feelings of vacation wear off in just a few days after returning to work.
A big trend in a down economy is Staycation; staying home and doing fun things nearby. Clever parents are arranging outings to fire stations, kitchens in restaurants, scenic train rides, city festivals, water parks, bowling, and local wine tours, in town bed and breakfast, concerts and messages/day spas for adults. I like a nice pedicure myself.
If the purpose of vacation is get away from work, rejuvenate, and have a good time there is a fundament lifestyle problem.
Why not rejuvenate, and have a fun good time everyday?
This is one of the great values of being self employed or owning your own business. There is no doubt that business owners work harder and longer than their employees… except for those who have perfected their business plans and they are receiving virtually passive income. The reason business owners are in business is because they have another idea about work; it is not just another paycheck, it is the key to personal freedom.
I like to build my “vacation” into meaningful segments; daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annually. I have vacation moments daily. Often it is merely a nice lunch with friends, but it is something pleasurable.
I can’t let the week go by without my ritual Saturday morning routine; waking without the alarm, a long walk, jog, ride with Jennifer, my special breakfast often fixed at home or a special restaurant, an excellent cup of coffee. We love those weekend family gatherings around the pool. Sunday morning church is a special life giving energizing bonus.
I plan a monthly event, frequently with family, often just Jennifer and I, a concert, a little hiking, day trip to the coast, weddings, business trips made fun, educational events (One of my favorites was John Gottman’s Marriage Workshop in Seattle). The quarterly events are much like the monthly ones, frequently planned around seasonal events and holidays. Then we have the traditional “vacation.”
The beauty of the Staycation is the creativity and the life giving that is planned for that week… or twelve days. The sad part is that we reserve that creativity for just once a year.
What rejuvenates you? What makes for fun and a good time daily? How can you escape the drudgery work and experience personal freedom?
Vacation, Staycation or financial freedom, you only have one life to live, it seems a shame to only live it twelve days a year. Let’s have lunch at the park and feed the ducks.
I love you — Bryan
