Take time to recharge your batteries

It’s been a few weeks since my last blog post, as I recently took some time off to recharge my batteries and take the family away on holiday.  I was actually going to make my returning post about the discipline of storytelling and how it can be used in business, however as I sit down to write this I thought I’d put that on the shelf for now, and just share a quick message about the need to take a break at this time of the year.

As usual it’s been a very busy year from a work perspective.  Throw on top a highly energetic toddler, and trying to keep our local residents’ association running smoothly, I was ready for some time off work.

We spent the first week of our 2 weeks over in Salou in Spain, and the second week back here in Kilkenny, doing some stuff we normally don’t get the time for.  Here are some of my tips for those of you who are going to take a break away this summer.  Please note that these tips are decidedly balanced towards holidaying with a young family.

1. Leave your laptop and smartphone behind if you can. The temptation to check email or the internet is too great if you bring your laptop or smartphone with you.  Being able to concentrate on the family and relaxing is much easier without these distractions.  So forget about Email, Twitter, Facebook etc and have a good time.
2. Utilise and setup email filters before you leave. You should have these in place anyway, but it will make life much easier when you get back if you can minimise the volume of email in your inbox.
3. If you are taking a little one with you, consider going with a larger group, so you can share “babysitting duties”. My parents came with us, and it was great to be able to hand our daughter over on a few of the nights.
4. Don’t try to do much. The biggest lesson I learned on this holiday is that when you have children your holiday experience completely changes.  When on holiday I normally like to take in as many of the local sites as possible, and spend little time sitting around.  While I did try to keep this level activity up this year, on reflection this wasn’t fair on the rest of the family.  Therefore my holidays for the foreseeable future will be a little less active, and a little more rooted to one spot.

I hope you find something helpful in my tips.  I would strongly recommend my tip about leaving your laptop and smartphone behind.  I must say that having returned to “normality” again, I feel much better for not having access to the tools that I use on a daily basis.

If you’re going on holidays this year, have a great time.  If you haven’t decided to take time off yet, don’t leave it too late.

So, what are your holiday hints and tips?  Please share in the comments.

Image credited to http://www.flickr.com/photos/everyplace/