Scroll through your social media feeds and it seems like everyone is on vacation. With travel restrictions loosening up, many are on their way to the lake, the beach, or over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house. And yet it can feel unproductive, "wrong" even, to take a week or two off to simply relax and enjoy time with family and friends.
We get it. Our fast-paced, productivity-driven culture glorifies busyness and the 80 hour workweek. Going to the beach for a week and *gasp* not checking email is in many ways a revolutionary act. There is an ever-present expectation that even while on vacation, you should be available to hop on a call, check in with colleagues, or weigh in on a project.
But the truth is that we are body and soul. To truly give our best to not only our businesses, but our family and other personal commitments, we need time to sit and listen to the rhythmic beat of the waves, the gentle lapping of the lake, or the soothing hiss of an espresso machine. We need time away from the quotidian, time to talk to our partners and kids, time to finally pick up that paperback novel that's been gathering dust on the bedside table, time to enjoy a glass of wine away from the hustle and bustle of life. Taking vacation doesn't make you an underachiever; it enables you to reset and refocus so you can more profoundly be the best version of yourself.
If you've been on the fence about truly unplugging and taking a break, consider this a sign that you should do just that. You've earned it.