Summer and making the most out of it

Okay we have rolled, no ran, into June. No idea where May went, seriously, I have no idea.  June is always busy with school finishing up, graduations, if you haven't booked summer camps yet (get on it and good luck). People have been booking camp sites and cottages for the summer. Oh, and vacation requests have been in for a while. It is that time of year we are rolling into.

Everyone remembers when summer at work used to be slower. You could go out for an ice cream at lunch. The building was less busy with people on vacation. There was time to catch up on a few projects and catch your breath. Plus your own vacation. Now, not so much. There doesn't seem to be a slow down at work. This started before COVID and now seems the norm.

So what can we do? I say take back a little time. If you have a green space near work go there even for twenty minutes. Feel the sun on your face. Get some vitamin D.  Mental health wise we need rest and even twenty minutes is refreshing.

Also when did working through lunch or at your desk become the norm? With the good weather head out and eat in that green space. Or walk around the block. We have to take care of ourselves. Work is definitely not going to. So with the good weather let's make the most out of it.  Everyone can squeeze in twenty minutes. If we are not in an operating room we have twenty minutes. Paper and emails are not going anywhere.

Work will be there in twenty minutes. Take a deep breath and priority health first.

Are long weekends enough?

For the majority of us the first of June means the start of summer.  Some of us had to have our vacation requests in months ago, others are more flexible.  Over coffee we were discussing summer vacations and what constitutes a break.  Here is the take.

Two weeks away from work.  It takes me almost the first week to unwind and start enjoying myself.  Plus if you are travelling any distance anything less than two weeks is a waste of time and money.  Okay we agree if you are travelling, say to another continuent, two weeks at least for vacation seems reasonable.

If I am not going away I usually only take a week as don't want to waste it. I like to save a week in case I go down south in the winter.  I find a week is a good break and if I'm home I feel rested when I come back.

Long weekends in the summer.  Take a Friday when you have a holiday Monday.  That way you are only working four days weeks for the summer.   Hmm....we all like a long weekend but are we really getting a long enough break to re-energize?  No, need more than four days off majority thought.  Take a week and rent a cottage.  Do some of us look like "cottage" people.  That is another post what "cottage" people look like.  Since I'm typing I say tanned and healthy.

Let us know what you think constituents a summer break - enough time to recharge.  May the hot lazy days of summer begin!