I Gave Up Work Email for a Week!

It is Friday and the last full day at our wonderful hideaway at the beach. Unlike so many beach vacations of the past, this one did not race by. Each day seemed to linger almost as if there were hours added to the day. I am completely refreshed.

I started to think about what was different about this week than many others we have spent at the ocean. Our days were very much the same, at the beach by 10:00, back for lunch by 1:00, and then back on the beach by 3:30 until the lifeguards left at 5:00. My oldest son went fishing several days and caught crabs, clams and a skate.

Evenings brought a leisurely dinner, a run around the stores in the downtown district, or a special evening with one of my kids. A soft serve cone, a beer at the “Ugly Mug,” or buying something that my wife pointed out to me the day before.

We had a wonderful wrap-around front porch where we sat and played games, told stories, or sat rocking a chair while reading a book. My oldest son started to devour Edgar Allan Poe’s tales. My oldest daughter re-read a favorite book after she finished the second book in a trilogy. We couldn’t find the third book in the local bookstore.

The kids are older now, so that is a different dynamic - yet none of these things explain why this has been an awesomely long week. Time is nothing but perception, so sometimes it is hard to figure out why some experiences seem to fly by and others drag on excruciatingly slowly.

Then it occurred to me this morning. I have forgotten about work completely. I haven’t thought about the office, meetings, or any projects. It is as if it does not exist.

Why?

I did something that so many of us feel we can no longer do - cut communication. It is hard. We have way too many means of communication these days. Someone can hunt you down if they really want to find you.

I took no phone calls and did not check any email. I have successfully separated work from play and the result - a long, refreshing time at the beach with nothing to worry about except which entree to order.

Next time you take a vacation, leave your email back at home. I guarantee it will make a huge difference. Now it is time to head down to the beach, its almost 10.