"IT’S STILL NOT TOO LATE" 

It’s still not too late, you know. That is, it’s still not too late for that last of the summer, quick-before-school-starts family fling.

I hesitate to say, “Vacation,” because, my guess is, if you haven’t taken it already, the chances are diminishing that you will schedule one now. For those with children in school, enrollment—the death knell for vacations—has already started in some school districts. And fall athletic activities are already kicking into gear. Football has started for one of my sons and volleyball for one of my daughters.

But it’s still not too late for that family “event.” It doesn’t have to be a full-fledged, two-week extravaganza. It can be an extended weekend or overnight get-away.

This is not to say you don’t need a vacation. You do need to a vacation. I hope you know that. Studies show vacationers are actually healthier and that not getting away from work is a predictor for heart attacks and even early death. So, take a vacation. It may be the healthiest thing you can do!

Hark: Do I hear a voice crying, “It’s too late! Not this summer. I’ll plan that next year,”? Like I said, at this stage of summer, you can still think in terms of a mini-vacation. Look for a place closer to home and plan for just a few days or even two. The longer vacation, complete with extended stays and even side-trips along the way, is likely out of the question. But you can end the summer well with that important and healthy time with your family or significant others.

 Now, just in case you’re still thinking of all the work you’ve got to do now and forever, just remember:

1. You can always think of work you’ve got to do, even if it’s not job related. I could work 24/7 and still have work to do. Yes, it is true, no one says at their death bed, “Gee, I wish I had spent more time at the office.” At least I’ve never heard anyone pining for more work. We all want our family when time is running out. Take time for the most important aspects of life while you have the opportunity. Now!
   And of course there will always be necessary work and improvements to be made around the house. The attic could always be cleaned out and the garage straightened. There is a time to attack those evils, but you also need some fun time away with family.
2. It takes discipline to plan time away. Did you ever notice how much you can get done the day before vacation? It’s because you know you flat-out have to get it done. And you usually can. We tend to work smarter and faster when we have a time limit. When we plan a vacation, we place ourselves on notice that we have to get it done. The same holds true for being disciplined to take that day off not just once in a while, but consistently. It’s just as true for the shorter, although not necessarily any less significant, times we plan with family. Go ahead, get out that planner and mark the dates now.
3. You will work better and more effectively having taken time away. Having been refreshed you are much more likely to get more done in less time. As one retired preacher told younger ministers, “Take a vacation. If you don’t need one, your congregation does!” Yes, our co-workers may need a vacation from us, and they will be better when we are better.
4. When you get away, make sure you get away. It’s useless to take your laptop on vacation with the intent of catching up on work. Refuse to give in to the temptation to take that work-related book. If you must read, read something that seems totally unrelated to work. And watch that company cell phone. Better still, don’t watch it, leave it! At least turn it off and check for emergencies periodically but only occasionally. Remember, it’s sometimes your fellow workers who can be the worst at calling at what they interpret as an “emergency.” And it only takes one nervous “the sky is falling without you here,” incompetent to destroy your best laid and paid for family plans.