Time Away to Re-Create
Last month I got away – really got away. I traveled out of state, spent a few quiet days with friends, and played some golf. Little did I realize how much I truly needed that time to reset.
Many of us have been feeling trapped by the restrictions related to covid. My need and desire to get away felt greater this time – more like a necessity – to escape the same-old-same-old routine and the walls within which I live and work. I sensed that my creativity had been waning and felt the need for a change of scenery and for some real recreation, or more accurately, “re-creation.”
Thankfully, the timing of the vaccine and health protocols in place made it possible for me to travel safely. And for the first time ever, I didn’t take my computer and didn’t look at an email. My smartphone became just a phone for communicating only with family and friends. It’s hard to do in a high-tech world but I totally unplugged – and what an “aha” experience that was.
My clients did not go unserved. There were no catastrophes. I realized that although the work I do is important, I can step away for a bit. My cog in the wheel was missing – but the wheel kept turning while I took a break.
Getting away gave me not only a change of scenery but a change of energy. I found respite, time to reflect, to reconnect with my creative mindset. I was able to step out of where I’d been and reaffirm that I am still energized by the work I do and that it is still the right path for me, even though I have felt duress during the pandemic. What a sense of peace this get-away bestowed.
We all need time to get away to re-create and re-energize. It seems that we are feeling this need at a different level; because of the pandemic we have not been able to take weekend trips or even pull back day-to-day.
Going without time to recreate is not sustainable. It can increase stress dramatically and takes a toll on health, relationships, creativity, and productivity. Basically, if you feel that your personal life is always taking a back seat to work, you are only partially living. And that WILL impact your work, both in terms of your ability to focus on it and your productivity. It can become a vicious cycle.
If you are feeling that kind of stress, recognize that giving yourself the opportunity to recharge your batteries and truly re-create is more a necessity than a luxury. If you can travel safely and leave town, do it! A few days away can make all the difference. If you can’t travel right now, find a way to give yourself the break you need.
