Time Off - Fantasy or Reality?

My partner, working in a traditional job, gets 6+ weeks off each year and makes sure he uses it all. That means I need to set up my work schedule to be able to get away for trips that are usually 2-3 weeks long at a time. Each year a 2+ week trip to the island of St. Croix is on the schedule. In the past few years there have been several trips to Italy of 2+ weeks to a month in length. Each year there is a 7-10 day camping and gold mining trip to the Wallowa Mountains in Northeastern Oregon - with up to 10 friends who are mostly independent business owners. We are currently planning a 4-5 week trip to Paris and the South of France for 2010. In addition, we "run away from home" for many 3-4 day weekends throughout the year.

If you want to make this happen in your life (and business) you can. I know way too many people who set up road blocks for themselves with excuses. For over 30 years I saw my grandparents make excuses for all the vacations they wanted to take and never did. Then my grandmother got seriously ill and all the money saved for those dream trips was slowly eaten away. After my grandmother passed away, my grandfather once said to me: "Never allow yourself to be in the position to say 'I should have...'"

I recently spent 2 weeks in the woods just in the last month.

from may 25th-ish to june 11th/ 15th ish

I was gone. I was cracking up and thinking of ways to just get out of my life. I was super down.

In the middle of economic down times for me... I chose to chuck it and go to a cabin owned by a couple I know. I took some spritual books, business books and one art book _ the artist's way_ and proceeded to "figure out my life"

I went into the 2 weeks with that intent.

and I have found a shift happening in just the last 2 weeks.

To make some very long stories short... I have shifted - big time.

I know what I want to feel and experience on a regular basis. I know where I want to take my business and personal life. I know what the most important things in life to me really are.

I have renewed my faith in life and myself as well as the good of all humans.

I really really "got" that all this "reality" is molded and shifted by me and it's time to take stock, make a plan and let her rip. I got back to my own inner wisdom.

A lot of what I did was sit down with my schedule, figure out what I was always thinking about and using it to figure out what was always important to me. I got clear on all the messes in my life that needed cleaning. I was reminded of what I really loved about my life.

I got to know what was really special about me. It was beautiful. a challenge. but beautiful.

I wrote in my journal, kept things simple.

From this time away, I know what standing my ground feels and looks like.

I have total confidence in myself. I used to be so easily swayed by others advice, lives or opinions but now I just continue to trust myself and let go of what others say.

Faith in life was renewed.

I called it my "2-week long intermission between 2 distinctly different chapters of my life"

and the new, polished, more powerful me steps forward with unfailing confidence and gratitude.

The single best "Time-Off" for me was one year that I trusted in my staff to keep the business going while I loaded my wife and 7 kids (?? ages 4-17) into our motorhome as soon as school was out.

We traveled and explored throughout the 11 western United States and didn't return until just before school was to begin again. Almost 3 months of the most fantastic memories that we can cherish forever. My parents joined us with their motorhome for the entire summer and periodically other family members joined with us along the way.

Upon return, my batteries were charged and I went back to work with new enthusiasm. I would recommend this to everyone.

Oh, what wonderful stories.

Sierra, I worked myself through "The Artist's Way" (it's the one by Julia Cameron that you're talking about, right?) and was transformed in a major way. She made me think and dream in a new way. After that, I quit my comfortable grantwriting consulting business and gave serious thought to what I really wanted to do, as opposed to what was easy for me.

And Howard, three months? That's amazing. I had summers "off" (I would always laugh when people said I had a three-month vacation) when I was teaching, but every summer was spent in school seven hours a day, getting those extra credits that meant I would get an extra $1,000 (for THE YEAR!)

Everyone needs to recharge their batteries every once in a while. Bob and I, getting another new business off the ground (which is impossible to "automate" because we are creating all the content for the subscription-based website), will take our recharging in small segments— a weekend here and there. And we postponed our trip to Paris for our 25th wedding anniversary for just that reason, but I know that when the time is right, we will take it.

Solopreneurs have a special challenge because we ARE the business. Thanks for the thought-provoking question, Ruth.

I took a solo 2 1/2 month road trip through the west and southwestern states to demystify areas I felt drawn to and look for a new place to call home after my home region I had known for almost my entire life until then no longer drew me to stay there.

The entire trip changed my life. The end result of that trip was moving here which obviously, has been a great decision!

You'll all hate this.

3 days per week for 6 months, then 6 months travelling. First year in the US, the main journey was a ride across the USA for 3 months, 10,018 miles only 22 on Freeway (getting out of Atlanta), staying at unchained places (everyone had to be unique) and scribbling a blog.

Last year, took time to become a motorcycle instructor, then immediately quit. Rode in China and some off road stuff here in the USA, including a ride alongside the Columbia River from near source to sea.

This year so far, BC, a few dips over the Cascades to try out some kit and then October through to March, riding from Seattle to Tierra del Fuego for Christmas, then back up the Atlantic Coast. Everyday at 4 pm, stop and make tea for people and have a chat.

There will be more on this as departure day draws nearer.

www.roughguidesintouch.com/lamble (That covers the ride across the USA) www.unchainedworld.com this resulted from the first ride and is ongoing and where I'll blog the Three Cups ride.

Now I have to get back to work, as three days doesn't give me much time to enjoy the rigours of tediousness that pay for the chance to live a life, rather than a exist through a routine.

Mmm…Stephen, that sounds amazing!

Sierra - I totally get what you went through. Betterment is an incredible gift, we all have it, and you used it to your advantage, Excellent.

This is an interesting one for me, because I have not had an official vacation - since I started my business. Once the Macbook Pros are refreshed though, I will finally be able to be as mobile as possible - so that excuse won't work anymore.

My partner is going through his own, "Finding what you love and make it a career" process right now with my coach, and yes - that means school.

As I have done time and time again, I think I'll follow Jeff's example and seriously sit down and see what the options are. My business pendulum has swung to über-busy - and he has to think way in advance for time off.

I'll report back when I have taken some action. Great topic - I'm a poster boy for not taking time off.

Great thread, Ruth!
It's wonderful to read everyone's journey towards better balance in life. I have to say that it was my travel experience that positioned me perfectly to start up Office Nomads with Jacob in July last year. I think the ability to get away from my everyday here, be in a different place (I was in southern and eastern Africa for 6 months), and to step outside of my comfort zone enabled me to discover the confidence and drive I needed to get this next journey off on the right foot. I'll add to that that it has become increasingly important to me to build in these structured breaks into my future to enable me to continue to be my best self. Taking a break allows me to step back, look at the bigger picture, and to gather ideas from the great world around me so I can come home refreshed and full of new ideas.
Whether it's travel, retreat, or just taking some time to allow yourself to breathe, it is pretty critical for all of us to make down-time a priority so we can do our best with all the up-time we have as business owners. :)

Must be something to that Africa thing. I started my first venture after returning from a month-long trip to Senegal and Mali (Timbuktu) several years ago. It was when I was working for an international relief and development nonprofit, so it was no Hilton experience, but I think that helped me connect with my own heart and vision for my life even more.

Thanks, Ruth, for the great reminder.

Time off??? No really, whats that?

I haven't taken a severe chunk off time off lately, but mostly changed my way of earning my living to do stuff that I enjoy.

In 06 I took a six month leave and found myself, working towards finding a sense of self and personal happiness.

Now I manage my life a little more closely, or fail to manage it at all. I know the things that will and will not kill me, and enjoy every morning I wake up and take breath.