Holiday season is upon us!

I’m not heading off to a far-flung destination this summer but staying put to enjoy two weeks of a home holiday. So last night, I prepared for my time off by writing a list. I love a list!  

This list consists of several activities, plans, and tasks I want to do during the two weeks - the thought being that I would keep a record of how many times I did something and where I went. On the list, I had sea swims, kayaking, books read, dinners out… you get the idea. I was feeling quite happy with myself about it, thinking I would be able to track how productive I’ve been over the two weeks and feel a great sense of satisfaction. In reality, it could be more likely a realisation of how unproductive I’ve been and subsequently, feel a sense of dismay!  

But today I clicked on a LinkedIn post by the very wise Jon Acuff where he spoke about his honeymoon mistake in Jamaica - when he disappeared from his wife for three hours and entered into an International Ping Pong championship and won! This, he claims, is the sure sign of a workaholic. He didn’t know how to relax. People who work hard and are driven and ambitious can find it difficult to relax and take time to pause. But he encourages us all that relaxing can be a goal and something we can improve upon - we can practise relaxation.  

Now I have no inclination to compete in a ping pong tournament and am more than able to switch off and relax. However, it did make me stop and think about my list and how I’d feel at the end of the holiday if all I did was lie on a sun lounger drinking Pina Coladas instead - probably guilty and unproductive. But maybe that’s what’s needed. Perhaps that can be the goal in and of itself - to relax! And that’s the most productive thing. 

Whilst I’m mindful that my list of things to do is a list of things that help me relax, it’s important to recognise that I don’t have to do them for a sense of being productive or a sense of achievement, but rather just because they make me happy and that’s ok.  

I guess the tricky thing that often gets in the way of proper relaxation, even when we’re good at it, is that for many leaders taking two weeks off from all work is unrealistic. Perhaps what we need to do is acknowledge this fact and not feel guilty for having to check in with things at the office, check emails or make a particular call but rather than let this dictate to us what we do and when, ensure that we control this and schedule it in accordingly, so that it does not negatively impact us or our friends and family that we’re holidaying with.  

It's far better to meaningfully put aside an hour in the early morning or late evening to deal with things than be disrupted throughout the day. Then it becomes perfectly ok to leave the phone behind or turn off all notifications.  

This summer or whenever we choose to holiday, let’s all practise the art of relaxation, whatever that might look like for you - not for any other reason than to enjoy it. 

And if you are going away this summer, why not ask yourself some insightful questions from ‘The School of Life’ to get the best out of your travel experience: 

•  Why did you pick this destination and what does it tell you about your inner psychological needs? 

• Which part of yourself have you brought from home that you’d prefer to leave behind? How could you loosen its hold on you? 

• If you lived here, what would you try to do for a living? What does this shed on your working identity more generally?  

• What do you appreciate about home, in the light of being here? 

• How would you like to return a different person? 

• What would you like not to forget about being here? 

• What is this destination trying - in its way - to teach you? 

• How could you change your life because of what you’ve seen here?

Holidays are the perfect time for a little contemplation.  

Happy Holidays!