If taking a long, leisurely
vacation is out of the question, you can still
sneak a day off every now and then. Playing
hooky is an effective way to prepare yourself to
take a real vacation of a week or more. You'll
learn that your business won't crash without
you. And you'll feel the immediate benefits of
taking some time for your personal life.
"One of the toughest things for
people to do is to actually get out of the
office," says Jennifer White, executive success
coach and author of
Work Less, Make More (John
Wiley & Sons, 1999). "You have to make your
commitments and stick to them."
Take a few extra days before
or after long holiday weekends, like Labor Day.
Many of your clients will likely be out of the
office during that time, too, so you won't be
missed.
Tack an extra day onto a
business trip and use it to play. Or stay over
on a Saturday night. You might reap the rewards
of lower airfare and hotel rates as well as gain
a play day. Use the weekend to explore a new
city, treat yourself to the health spa at your
hotel or order room service and watch movies.
Use any excuse you can find to
set a day out of the office -- and stick to it.
Is a friend celebrating a birthday? Promise to
take the day off and spend it with your buddy
doing something fun. Is a new exhibit by your
favorite artist coming to the museum? Schedule
to be there on opening day for all of the
fanfare.
Find something, anything, that
will pull you away from your desk for just one
day. You'll be amazed at the difference it makes
in your personal as well as professional life.
"With your renewed energy and
more balanced lifestyle, you'll be able to
concentrate on the things that really matter in
your business -- putting your brilliance to work
where it counts the most," says White.
