Take a Break.

   The Summer vacations have already started in the office, which means I am very jealous of some of my patients. Cruises, Europe, the Caribbean, my patients go on some awesome vacations. Talking to a patient the other day about their recent trip to Europe, she seemed surprised when I told her I have never been. Not that I don't want to I told her, I just never seem to make it over there. Really for two reasons, one it is hard for me to take off more than a week at a time. The practice doesn't do too well when I am not here. :) And when you only have a week, a couple of days of travel doesn't seem as appealing as a beach that is only a 2 hour plane flight away. Second, is I feel like my vacations are needed. Meaning I need the break, the rest, I need to re-energize and refocus. I find that doing nothing and laying on the beach, watching the waves helps me do just that. If I went to Europe, I would want to see everything! Whether it was the Vatican, the Coliseum, Greek ruins, there is so much to see. I think it would be exhausting! And if I need my vacations for my own well-being in this stage of my life, sight-seeing is not going to get me there. I told her some day.
   But my wife and I laugh everytime we are on vacation. And if this is you, I am not making fun, just making an observation. We always meet another family or another couple on vacation. And they will usually ask us what we had planned or what we are doing while we are on vacation. And as I sit on the beach, I look out at the water, and I say "this". Most of them will then usually tell me about all their plans to go zip lining, atv riding, snorkeling, guided tours, you know all of the excursions. But to ride a quad is not why I flew to the beach, I can do that in Texas. I flew to the beach, for the beach. Now if all of these things help you blow off steam and reduce your stress than have at it. For me, it doesn't. I need a break. And from my observations of some of these people frantically planning their excursions before they sell out, they do to. I hear a lot of, "we have to do this" or "we have to see that". Ummm no you don't, you are on vacation. You actually don't have to do anything. So whether you are going on vacation, or you are just in need of a staycation over the weekend at your house. Make sure you are getting your break, you work hard, you deserve it.