Holidays

We had our fresh summer clothes on, haircuts, summer smiles and the four of us arrived at Auckland International Airport ready and excited to be taking our holiday to tropical Fiji. We were looking forward to a glorious week of sunshine, swimming and the friendly Fijian faces. Tropical fruits, rest and reconnection with each other. We were delighted to see the check in at the airport empty – wow! Even Fiji couldn’t wait to have us there, facilitating a smooth bag drop with no waiting. Things were going extraordinarily well. The lovely man at the counter welcomed us with a smile and the kids beamed their toothy grins back. ‘We are going to Fiji!’ they said in their 4 and 6 year old squeaky voices. The kindly man took our passports and (in those days) printed tickets and a shadowy look came over his face. 

'I’m sorry, but you aren’t going today.'  Whaaaaat? Why not? I was confused.  'Because your flights leave tomorrow.'

At that moment, I knew I needed help. 

I needed to change the way I worked. I was strung out! I was running two businesses, being a mother, a wife, a goddess (!) and doing all that those roles involved – household, schools, after school programs, friends. It was clear that I needed to run my life differently. 

You see, the year previously, I had ploughed on and on, taking the odd afternoon or morning off when I could. I was stressed about having the school holidays missed again. I tried to take even only an hour here and there to have me time as well. I was trying to extend care to myself by having massages and going to the gym etc, but basically, I was strung out! The week’s holiday that I did manage to squeeze out, last minute was quite fraught – I think my stress was picked up by my children and they responded accordingly. What was I thinking trying to squish essential rest and relaxation into random days and hours?

The solution was to buy a business diary and I instantly booked out the holidays that both my business partner wanted and I needed to take for the year – because of the ages of the kids that was quite easy to do as it was based around the school year. We made those holiday bookings in the diary sacred. We knew even 9 or 10 months in advance when we would take a break. We were able to plan for a locum to cover our absence, and able to book spaces to go – from campsites to flights and hotels. In making that holiday booking time, that time off to step out of our work space, we were able to make it sacred. We were able to say no to reps or meetings or trainings. And a benefit that I discovered was that I was able to really look forward to those holidays. I actually had something to anticipate! That gave me a different something to work for and an exciting one at that.

In another little tweak made during discussion with my business partner, we decided that one week off was not really beneficial. In a one week holiday it often took four or five of those days to slow and calm down and then suddenly I was gearing up to return to work. We realised that a two week break away made all the difference. Two weeks seemed to give you a much longer feeling of relaxed down time and reconnection with those that you need to. 

We also always encouraged our employees to take two weeks at a time. And we never wished for them to work more than six months without a holiday. The productivity and quality of customer interaction was greatly enhanced as well with the interaction with the other staff ie. Me!

It was only last night, my Irish fellow and I realised that we were really, really (did I say really?) looking forward to our trip to a sun holiday destination. Tensions had been rising and it was on the way to the airport that we realised that we hadn’t had a holiday for eight months. How easily we had fallen into the trap of taking a day here and there, maybe a long weekend, but it had been a long time since we had taken a restful holiday specifically to catch up and reenergise. Sit by the pool, wander along the beach, see the island, read a book, hold hands.

How often do you stop and take a real holiday? It’s hard to fit one in isn’t it. Well book it. Write it in the diary. Do something to make it happen.

So as the kindly chap at the check in counter handed back our tickets, I burst into tears and decided that now was the time to stop trying to do everything. Ask for help from those who could, even (ahem) allow others to help – there was no need to be super woman all of the time – just sometimes!

We got to Fiji 24 hours later. This time at the check in counter at the airport, there was a queue at the check in of about 100 people – never had I been so relieved to see a queue. At least, it meant there actually was a flight to be on! (I suppose it was better that we had been early than late for the flight though!)

The holiday in our little Fijian bure was wonderful!

Plan your time away from work, and plan too, time away from your regular home life. A change of scenery is beneficial to your frame of mind, and changes your thinking. You become curious about the world, you discover interesting things and meet interesting people along the way. Even if you travel an hour or two from your home, things are different and the change allows you to think with fresh eyes and ears.

It is too easy to let time slip by and the routine turns into a rut. Before you know it another year has slipped past, and you are stressed, strung out, snappy and your health failing. Maybe even your relationships are taking a hit.

Be a fun and interesting person with an open mind, maybe a tan, and some great selfie pictures! Pick experiences over possessions.