Derwin Dubose

The art of taking a real vacation

// May 30th, 2008 // Blog

It’s been a while since I posted, but I just came off of a great vacation. My girlfriend and I went out to North Carolina’s Outer Banks, a truly phenomenal place, to camp for a week. Our time at the Outer Banks was one of the best vacations I’ve ever had. On the trip, I renewed my commitment to my job, and returned to work this week refreshed, energetic, productive and happy.

Many people’s approach to vacation is flat-out wrong. They leave home, but spend every waking moment tied to a Crackberry, send emails at the same frequency that they do in the office, jump on conference calls while gone, and even do serious work on vacation (crunching numbers, writing reports). They ignore their loved ones and annoy the heck out of coworkers who think, “Aren’t they supposed to be on vacation?”

Each person needs time to recharge and renew, and with millennials focus on personal life, we need to make sure we have real vacations that boost our happiness and send us back to work ready to roll:

Pick a place you can explore. Don’t take time off of work to just veg out on your couch; go somewhere that has things to do and explore. The Outer Banks has beaches, two bodies of water, several national parks and historical sites, museums, lighthouses, wildlife, and great restaurants. Pick a vacation spot that is beautiful and allows you to do things that you will enjoy.

Go on a technology fast. Most people don’t have relaxing vacations because they stay tethered to work and home stress through electronic communication. Your vacation should free you from all communications with the office and anything that will stress you. I left my laptop and PDA at home, I turned my cellphone off for the entire trip, and I left my watch in the car.

Relax like never before. Sleep in, read, walk, hike, talk — do whatever it is you need to relax. During the work week, caffeine is usually my friend because I’m a chronic insomniac, so on vacation, I slept in every day to catch up. I never get to read for recreation, so I finished Good to Great on vacation, which was a phenomenal read. It allowed me to return to work recharged (and get on a more regular sleep schedule).

Consider roughing it (or at least connect with nature somehow). For me, there’s nothing more relaxing than being in nature. I love hiking, cycling, and just being outdoors. We camped at the Outer Banks — tents, outdoor stoves, the whole nine — and the simplicity of life was such a healthy change of pace. But if you are one of those folks who just can’t go too rough, at least pick a vacation spot that will allow you to connect with nature in some way, be it a short hike or walk along some water.

Most importantly, be introspective. For a good amount of time each day, my girlfriend and I split and did our separate things. I’d go shopping for supplies or food while she stayed at camp, or she’d go do a small hike while I read on the beach. While you’re alone, be sure to do some soul searching and think about where you’re at in your career and life.

Here are some questions I asked myself:
Am I happy? At work and with life as a whole.
Am I accomplishing my goals and concentrating on my work and personal priorities?
How can I simplify my life, and what stresses do I need to simply let go?
What am I doing really well, and what do I need to improve upon?
Where do I think I want to be professionally a year from now?

I came out of that internal conversation realizing that I’m extremely happy — perhaps the happiest I’ve ever been. My job is a great match for me and fulfilling, I’m making progress on my goals, and my life in general is at a place that makes me extremely content.