Countdown to Vacation

Focus Newsletter, Spring 2006

I have been thinking about summer vacations recently, mostly because I'm actually taking one this year, but also because of how we put ourselves in high gear prior to leaving for vacation, whether it's just for a weekend or for a whole week.

Isn't it amazing how much you can accomplish the week before you go? Did you notice how productive you were the last time you prepared to go on vacation, leaving your job behind you? Now why can't that motivation and focus be captured every day?

For some reason, the concept of having all the time in the world gives us a sense of abundance. I don't mean that we have 16 hours in a day, but we are looking at endless days ahead of us and we pace ourselves. The work gets spread out, we procrastinate, and our motivation is different, tending to be more reactive than proactive.

Notice what happens though when you are about to go away for a week. You identify your responsibilities, assess deadlines and kick it into high gear. You work your priorities first, identifying tasks you can accomplish before you go and then identify those things that can be delegated for folks to do while you're away. Some things get abandoned or tossed after some serious consideration, knowing that whatever it is will never happen or you just don't need to see those papers upon your return.

Your decision making capabilities are much sharper too. Notice how many decisions you make before your vacation. Remember that what builds up around you-the files, the papers, the clutter- are not only work in progress, but also a lot of unmade decisions too.

Instead of letting time slip away a little every day, pretend you're going away for a week and get focused! You might surprise yourself at how much you can accomplish in less time.