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Persuade People With Deductive Reasoning
3 Major Misconceptions About Taking Time Off and
Why You Should Schedule a Vacation Right Away
—by Robert L. Cox
Part 2
I told you how American workers give up a total of 1.6 million years of vacation time each year. Clearly, we’re a country plagued by "vacationorexia."
Admittedly, I’ve been a victim of "vacationorexia." I’ve turned down all-expense-paid trips to Maui and London (awarded to me by my company) in favor of working. But eventually I realized what I was missing: quality time with my family and a period of mind-and-body restoration for myself.
So if you’re "vacationorexic," as so many people are, it’s time to make a change. Start by setting aside a specific block of time each week for fun and family. And treat this as you would treat any critical appointment. Don’t "steal" from that time to finish an extra project or work an extra hour or two.
Here are some other techniques you can use to make sure you’re setting aside plenty of time for yourself, your family, and your friends:
- Include your family when planning a vacation, a night out, or a long weekend.
- When you take a break, set your e-mail to an automatic "out of office" reply. This way, your clients, associates, and partners will know that you’re unavailable and when they can reach you again.
- On your land line, record a message indicating when you will be gone and when you will return (specific days and dates).
- Turn your cellphone off. Or, at the very least, put it on "vibrate" so you can enjoy your time off without interruption.
- When you begin thinking about work, stop.
- Before leaving the office, advise your staff, associates, clients, etc. "If the building is burning - you can call. Otherwise, I’ll speak with you upon my return."
- Count your blessings, and tell your loved ones that they are important to your success and that you appreciate their support.
Once you put these techniques into action, you’ll have more balance in your life and a better perspective in terms of work, fun, and family. Your family and friends will notice the difference.
This article appears courtesy of Early To Rise, the Internets most popular
health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit
http://www.earlytorise.com.
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