UNITED STATES─Why is it so difficult for so many Americans to go on vacation without worrying? I mean it seems like we are consumed with guilt about going on vacation while so many others do it with such ease and no worry it baffles me to the core. I mean I’m someone who barely goes on vacation, and when I do I worry so much about what is going on instead of focusing on actually resting and not worrying about stupid stuff.
I mean my co-workers don’t worry when they’re on vacation so why in the world am I worried? Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I know there are few people like me. What do I mean by that? I’m a workaholic and I’m ok with admitting that, but with any workaholic, if you do not take a break you will eventually crash and burn and the result is not good.
The thought of being able to sleep and not worry about what the hell is going on is a great feeling, but the worry of the notion of things going haywire is always lingering in the back of my mind. It is reassuring when people tell you to relax, don’t worry all will be fine, but you’re resisting the temptation of checking your email, doing this or doing that and before you know it, you’re working when you’re not supposed to be working. So what can you do to prevent that?
Well for starters, take yourself from any technology that may tempt you to work that includes utilizing your phone or tablet to check emails, login to the company Switchboard or website, having a laptop in your possession answering telephone calls, the list goes on and on. If you’re on vacation do something that you haven’t done. What does that mean? Visit the mall, go to the zoo, go out to a fancy dinner, go to the park, go to the museum, go see a movie, the list goes on and on with the amount of things that you can do.
The biggest advice to give is if you’re truly on vacation, you have to place yourself in vacation mode, do what relaxes you and puts you at ease. The more you think about work, the more you’re likely to indulge in work. The more you relax and focus on things that make you happy, that likely will alleviate that stress, anxiety and worry that you have in the back of your mind.
You have to ask yourself this question when you’re thinking about working while on vacation: How long have you already worked without a vacation. For most Americans it has been months, so why are you in such a tizzy about taking seven days to yourself when you’ve given months of your life working your bum to help the company you work for achieve its goals? Its only seven days, make the best of that time that you have off, it might be several more months before you get that opportunity again.
Written By Zoe Mitchell
