The intent of a vacation is to relax, unwind, maybe even recharge your batteries. But sometimes vacations can cause more stress than they're worth. When are you going to take it? Will you go out of town? Where will you go? Do you have enough money? How can you get the best deal? How's all the work at the office going to get done while you're gone?
New buzzwords like "workcation" or "staycation" have popped up in our lingo to describe how our overproductive lives and underproductive economy have taken a toll on our time off. Spring Break 2010 proved that I was definitely a candidate for chronic multi-tasking and trying to fit it all in. I had spent nearly the entire month of February on the road for my job and was anxiously awaiting the opportunity to spend solid bonding time with my teenagers, sleep, do nothing, and catch up on household chores. So, I made a honey-do list for myself, scheduled our week's appointments and made a concerted effort to fit it all in. But, could I fit it all in?
Friday night kickoff: Dinner out with the kids. = Bonding + satisfying basic physiological needs right?
Saturday: It snowed so we lounged around the house. I caught dinner and a movie with a girlfriend. = Kid time + me time
Sunday: Painted the living room with my daughter and two of her friends. = Completed item #1 on my honey-do list + female bonding
Monday: Carpet cleaners came to shampoo the carpets and the sofa. Kids and I ran errands while carpet dried. = Item #2 on honey-do list + more bonding
Tuesday: Son's doctor appt. Stopped in the office to catch up on a few things. Team called my vacation a "fake-cation". Afternoon massage. = Time with son + work + me time
Wednesday: Slept until noon. Went into the office in the afternoon. = Rest + work
Thursday: Antiquing with my daughter. Cleaning the house from top to bottom. = Item #3 on honey-do list + bonding
Friday: Hanging out at the creek with the kids and the dogs. Put pesticide on the yard. = Item #4 on honey-do list + more bonding
Saturday: Changed all the furnace filters in the house. Flew kites. Got attacked by kites. = Item #5 on honey-do list + more bonding
Sunday: Everyone is in their own rooms. = Enough bonding. Ready to go back to school/work.
Verdict? My honey-do list is complete. I'm caught up on work (my inbox is empty). And, my kids are sick of me. It's been a successful fake-cation.
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