Take Time to Disconnect

Lenja and I gifted our parents a week-long holiday in the Midlands of South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province this past week. Our accommodations were unique: a refurbished church built in 1913, an adjacent small cemetery, and endless surrounding fields. The purpose of our trip was to disconnect from work, spend quality time with our loved ones, and recharge our batteries.

Throughout the week, I made a concerted effort to abstain from anything classified as "work," including writing. My laptop remained off—I brought it along in case an urgent matter cropped up, a constant possibility in my line of work. I also attended to a single (urgent) work call that came through. I spent the rest of my time indulging in blissful nothingness. I chauffeured my family around a lot; we visited quaint stores along the Midlands Meander; we ate a lot of vegan food and basked in the golden hues of the sunsets and sunrises.

Embracing a lot of "nothing" was challenging, as I'm used to being persistently "productive". Even when I'm not directly engaged in work, I'm usually absorbed in some form of stimulating activity, whether reading, listening to audiobooks or podcasts, sketching ideas for blog posts and stories, or strategizing methods to enhance my efficiency. Of course, I do carve out moments of stillness within the first half hour of my day, but once my day starts, it's go-time until I crawl into bed.

Being constantly "on" is a recipe for burnout. Ironically, sometimes the most productive thing we can do is to take time off to do nothing more than relax and play. Switching off allows our minds to "refresh," leading to improved mental clarity and focus, reduced stress, and alleviated burnout. Spending more time with family, or engaging in activities outside our work sphere, enhances our work/life balance and fortifies our relationships.

Today, I'm feeling rejuvenated and ready to plunge back into the regular frenzy of my workweek because I chose to disconnect. I strongly encourage you to do the same if you are in need, dear reader.

Until next week,

Ric.

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