When Summer was Unplugged

Overworked Americans Need Summer Vacations

Remember when summer meant playing all day until it got dark? School ended in May, wouldn’t resume until after Labor Day in September. Summer stretched out in front of us like a long, carefree adventure, with endless possibilities. It was a frame of mind that triggered a relaxing ‘weight off my shoulders’ release from all ‘have tos’. Even when we worked, they were summer fun jobs where we usually interacted with other kids our age. It was a great feeling to not be tied down to anything major and just experience life.

People know vacations are good for you. They restore your energy and are good for the heart. But the reality is that over the last 30 yrs, America has become a no-vacation nation, declared by the Center for Economic and Policy Research. Stressed out Employees who really need time off, as well as company heads who deal with greater turnover and poorer work productivity are all suffering when vacation is not seen as a priority. Vacations are sacrificed because work loads are huge, job security is unsure, and people want to be seen as dedicated, irreplaceable parts of the whole.

Even when workers take their vacations, they often are not unplugged from their workload. The quality of their vacation suffers with connections to email and the smartphone keeping all in the loop. Vacation costs rise, salaries don’t. And that school year often goes to mid June with sports starting in August. It’s a frame of mind instilled in us at a very young age.

Time to take a pause. How you see the world matters. Look for the fun that brought you where you are today. Phase out as much of the routine as possible and look at everything you do with new eyes, finding something there that directly benefits or improves you in some way. Take it personal and make it work for you. Do the best you can at what you’re good at and see how you can move forward towards the life you want. With each experience, take more of what you want, and let go of what you don’t. There are choices to be made, and it begins with realizing you are in control of your life. Make it the best it can be, all for your own growth and happiness. It all starts with you in every way, in every day. Find little things each day that bring you happiness. Reach for that kid with the weight off his shoulders mentality. You’ll be better for it.