If you have not noticed, it is winter right now. We have been slammed with snow and arctic temps this winter due to the lovely (NOT) *polar vortex*. As I type this it is snowing AGAIN. And more snow is coming. And then, more snow is coming!

The Awesome (NOT) Chicago Forecast
You get the point. IT’S COLD! THE WEATHER HERE SUCKS. So, I’m daydreaming about warmer places…
And on top of these frigid temps and tons of snow there is my to-do list…. Sigh. Yes, even entrepreneurs need a vacation. If you read my post about entrepreneurial struggle you know exactly what I am talking about. Heck, we probably need a vacation more than those with 9-5 jobs. Why? Because we tend to be on call 24/7. Some entrepreneurs are lucky. They are great about turning off work-mode once the clock hits 5:00pm. Or maybe they have help. But for some of us the work goes on into the wee hours of the night. We wake up thinking about what we have to do that day. We go to bed thinking about the things that we were not able to get done that day. And the cycle starts all over again the next day.
As I sit here thinking about what I accomplished in 2013, and what 2014 has in store, I know that I have my work cut out for me. It is only January and I am already feeling a bit overwhelmed. If there is a lot going on, it is easy to feel that way, and easy to get burned out. Healthy outings and vacations are a must! It is important to have a release and it is important to relax. So of course a vacation is the first thing on my mind. Last year in August I took the most amazing vacation. IT.WAS.WONDERFUL. And it was SO needed!
This particular vacation consisted of a cruise, a stay on Grand Bahamas Island, and a stay in Ft. Lauderdale. Oh, and I got engaged. 🙂 Click the image to see all photos from this vacation.
There were several things that made this vacation stress free. Here are the top five things that made my vacation great for clearing my mind. And things that you should consider if you want to truly unplug.
I Left My Laptop at Home
This proved to be good… and bad. I left it on purpose because I had NO intention of working. However, I forgot about a deadline post (UGH!!), and had to do it my first night of vacation, from my iPad. This proved to be very, very challenging. Then I had to make corrections a day or two later, and it was almost impossible to get it done. My lesson learned from this is to MAKE SURE that I don’t forget to do any deadline posts BEFORE I leave for vacation.
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I Took a Cruise
I LOVE cruises. There is just something magical about a giant floating resort. Everything is there at your fingertips. There is a pool, hot tub, dancing, food, games, and all kinds of fun. AND… most cruises have no WiFi or very expensive WiFi, and no cell phone access. This forces you to put your smartphone away for your trip. If you don’t once you pull away from the port you will be charged an arm and a leg in roaming charges. This forces you to unplug from the world. You don’t have to worry about being tempted to check your email because you won’t be able to. And it is liberating!
I Hit the Beach and Got Some Sun
As someone who works on a computer ALL.DAY.LONG that usually means I’m inside at my desk. Being outside, in the sun, and especially on a beautiful tropical beach rejuvenates us. It is a great feeling to just lay there for a while without a care. Or maybe you want to splash around and discover new fish with an underwater camera like we did. We stayed at the Grand Lucayan Resort on Grand Bahama Island where there is an awesome private beach. It was sooo beautiful!
I Slept
Vacation is all about rest! When you are home you have to get up and work, get the kids ready for school, or answer phone calls. Or maybe you are awakened by endless beeps of your devices reminding you about what you have to do that day. Or you hear the notifications telling you that you have email. On vacation you do not have to worry about an alarm, or notifications. You can sleep until you wake up naturally. And this is a great feeling.
I Reconnected
Whether you take a vacation by yourself, with your spouse, or with your children, you have a chance to reconnect. At home everyone is busy. Everyone has chores, appointments, school, work, or homework. On vacation there should be nothing in your way except spending time together, relaxing, and having fun.
I already have the next vacation in mind. I am already planning it! It is important to get that time away. Life is too short to work all of the time. Â Even if you cannot take a cruise vacation, or Caribbean vacation that forces you to disconnect, I strongly suggest that you force yourself to disconnect. Don’t check email. Don’t answer your phone unless it is an emergency. Don’t work! The whole point is to relax.
Now…. off you go to think about and plan your relaxing vacation. 🙂
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