In today’s world with the flexibility of remote work, many of us can get away for a quick vacation and not miss a beat. The challenge comes when the expectations of life interfere with our vacation-work balance. When we lessen the weight of the demands we place on ourselves, we can start enjoying our time away.
The Weight of the Decision
The text comes in as I sit at the roof top restaurant surrounded by vacationers.
The question, "Hi. Are you busy June 3 to June 12? I'm going to PR by myself...."
Looking off into the endless sea, I feel the weightlessness of ten days away without my husband and the demands of everyday living.
Both my husband and daughter continue their talking and notice my far off gaze.
"What's up?" My daughter asks.
Dismissive I say, "Oh... That was just Pam asking me if I wanted to join her in Viequez next week."
The phone sits heavy on my lap, waiting for a response.
My husband's eyes light up with excitement, "Why wouldn't you go?" He asks.
Fifteen days ago, my friend invited me to join her to her island home in Viequez, Puerto Rico. Most people would jump at the offer, but while life was happening all around me, I questioned if I should leave. It isn’t my day job because I work remotely, but my everyday living would be disrupted.
Then I considered how I would benefit from this reprieve called life. A life disruption would offer me the time I so desired to break free from the weight of my daily living and accomplish some writing goals.
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The Balancing Act
My intention for getting away was to spend ten days focused on book publishing and getting to know my subscribers and followers. In addition, I would have plenty of time to read and write my weekly blog and newsletter. Everything would perfectly balance out, because I would have the time to focus my energies into creating a business plan without my husband hovering.
The Importance of the Vacation-Work Balance
The weight of my decision was about to get heavier as my daughter’s ears perked-up. She, too, has a job where her work is done remotely. Corporate America has changed over the last few years and encourages employees to find their work-life balance. Not only does she get to work remotely, but they offer incentives, like summer Fridays. They are given time off to enjoy life.
Work-life balance makes for a happier, more content employee. And nothing makes my daughter happier than traveling. The next thing you know we both are booking flights to PR. My time away is turning into a balancing act of her work schedule and our excursion time.
Her Effect on My Vacation-Life Balance
We scheduled our activities and touring around her meeting schedule. Now my vacation-life schedule teetered to vacation. My life routine now was determined by her schedule. The get-away I had planned to focus on my writing aspirations was no longer that, but was turning into a real vacation.
It was a special vacation, spending a few days alone with my daughter exploring Old Town, San Juan and then several more days at the beaches of Viequez with our long-time friend. The scale was definitely tipping towards vacation and I started to enjoy every moment.
I prioritized my business work, followed by leisure time with my daughter and friend, while my writing goals became fleeting, weightless memories. Tuesdays’ are when I publish my newsletter and Thursdays’ my blog. Tuesday came and went. On Wednesday I published my Substack newsletter, My name is Karen. I am a writer and so much more. And here it is Saturday (my daughter left yesterday morning) and I am writing an impromptu blog post with a new goal to publish it on Sunday.
Lightening My Load to Balance My Vacation-Work
Weekly, I have consistently blogged for the last couple years. Each blog is written in the midst of a daily struggle. Rarely, do I write ahead. The beginning of each month is when our business needs attention and people rely on me to accomplish their personal goals. Our business pays the bills and allows me to live a lifestyle free to write.
My WordPress blog and Substack became tertiary in my responsibilities. In order to enjoy vacation I gave up what I enjoy most. Writing. The work I intended to do for book publishing also has been going by the wayside. I kept one zoom meeting with a publisher and found it difficult to discuss my book.
I am discovering that being in my element, my personal environment, is where I am most creative. Traveling and spending time with my daughter and friend is where I create my content for writing. It is of the utmost importance that I understand the weight of my writing should not disrupt my life-writing balance.
The Weight of Living a Balanced Life
Just the right amount of weight keeps us grounded, but allows room for growth. I desire to grow in all areas of my life, not just my writing. Spiritual growth is most evident in how we treat others we do life with.
Honesty and integrity in all aspects of our lives lead to righteous living and fairness. If I can apply these principals in all areas, my life will naturally balance itself out. God’s plan and purpose for my life will be fulfilled.
The zoom meeting I didn’t feel prepared for turned into a request to review my manuscript and a follow up zoom meeting. I no longer need to feel the weight of life as it impacts my vacation-work balance, because I am content with God’s plan for my life.
I can let go and let God.
The LORD detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights.
Proverbs 11:1 NLT
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