Two days. That’s how much time in a one-week vacation I feel at peace from work. It’s not enough. Here’s the math:
Q Friday ends the work week and then the nine-day vacation starts.
Q It takes me several days to unwind and get in the habit of being off.
Q Now it’s Tuesday, and I can read the Sports section first without guilt.
Q Thursday reminds me that it’s almost the vacation-ending weekend, which makes me want to think about the week ahead.
I just returned from a one-week ski trip with my family. Tuesday and Wednesday were peaceful for me, but my brain was distracted for much of the remaining time. Only once since I graduated from college, have I taken off two straight weeks. Because the same math above applies, I felt nine days of peace instead of two.
I really believe everyone should try to find two consecutive weeks each year to take vacation. It is the best way for me to reflect on life, work, the people around me and where I want to take things. It is hard to find two straight weeks. I’ve never understood why there is a word for two weeks, but maybe it is because it should be simple to say. Talking myself out of a fortnight vacation is easy. Anybody who works hard needs it and deserves it too.
