My wife helped me figure this one out, right around our 10th wedding anniversary.
Ok, maybe she had been telling me longer, but that’s when I finally acknowledge the wisdom.
There is a difference between a trip and a vacation.
How you treat them could be the key to how you find the right balance to maintain both your business and personal relationships.
Trips have a purpose - whether it's a business meeting, visiting a landmark, or attending a funeral.
They share similar characteristics with vacations, like airports, hotels, and expenses.
But trips are mission-driven, not an escape.
Vacations are all about pleasure and relaxation.
They shouldn't include a lot of work or serve a dual purpose.
Mixing the two leads to misaligned expectations.
When someone says they “need a vacation from their vacation?”
They didn’t take a vacation. They took a trip and ate up their vacation days.
Vacations don’t have to be long or expensive.
But they should be frequent if you run a business.
Aim for at least one vacation per quarter to recharge, even if it's just a day or a few hours.
Spend a night having a staycation. Or spend an afternoon at Starbucks.
Pick up a hobby. Have a coke and smile. Start a side hustle.
Escape the grind. Give things time to breathe.
In our remote work era, our life becomes one big long trip. It’s never-ending.
That’s why it’s more important than ever to plan a vacation.
It’s not just about work-life balance.
It’s about taking a vacation from the grind of an overscheduled life of obligations.