My husband and I will soon be leaving for a much needed vacation. We haven't taken an actual vacation that lasted for more than a couple of days and that didn't involve family or friends for a couple of years. Needless to say we are very excited about our upcoming trip. Which made me think of how important it is to just disconnect once in awhile and rest.

It's really hard for me to commit to a vacation. I am very busy with work and with the various social and charitable organizations to which I devote time. And I love what I do so it's really hard to break away. There is always a new client who needs a resume immediately. Or an event that needs to be planned. Or I could be working on the book that has been on my to-do list for the last 6 months. And a million other projects that I need to start. But I think that if you don't occasionally remove yourself from all the tasks and the "noise" in your life that the tasks will become your life.

I think life should be about the bigger things like our families, pets, and experiencing new things. The tasks, and the stress that is inherent in the tasks, shouldn't define our lives, the big and important things should. I find that I can so easily become consumed with the tasks and forget the bigger things. I think that is what is meant when people say that you should "Work to live; don't live to work."

Everyone gets stressed out about work, family, friends, money, and sometimes your day to day existence causes a constant low level of stress that you aren't even conscious of anymore. That is why you've got to take a break and leave the email and cell phone behind. For some people that means a weekend camping trip or a long horseback ride. Some people prefer a few days in New York, shopping, dining, and seeing the sights. I know one woman who went on an eco-tourism trip to Antarctica that she swore was the best time in her life. (No thanks...I lived through too many Chicago winters to want to go somewhere colder than Chicago in January!)

Several years ago some friends and I rented a sail boat in Antigua and spent nearly 3 weeks living on the boat and just sailing around to various Caribbean islands and exploring. It was kind of like living on an RV on the water except you could catch fresh fish for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. One day we were in a huge storm with swells that were at least 15 feet high. We had to harness in and just focus on not falling off the boat while we sailed through the storm to get from Barbuda to St. Barth's. That day was tiring and a little stressful but it wasn't the same kind of stress that I felt on the job. By the time I returned home from the trip I was so completely relaxed from totally removing myself from the day-to-day corporate stress that had me losing sleep and snapping at co-workers. For at least a couple of months after that trip I felt happier, more focused, less likely to sweat the small stuff, and I was a lot more fun to be around.

So, take a break once in awhile if you want to live a fuller and more productive life. I have tried it and I am absolutely convinced that total relaxation can help you to live a much happier life. And on that note, I am going to go pack for my upcoming retreat from reality...