Relax! It's Summer Time!

If only we could regain the knowledge we possessed when we were younger. There’s something built into our hard drives that tells us we should relax a little during the summer time, but we learn shortly after graduation from high school to override that function and replace it with a work ethic that keeps us running from place to place, working long hours, and ignoring the urge to take it a little slower and enjoy ourselves that the warm temperatures and increased absorption of Vitamin D inspires in most of us.

I am as guilty of this as any, and guiltier than some. We’re busy. The days of the single income family as the norm are behind us. We have to keep up with ever increasing cost of living increases, and a change in social temperament over the past twenty-five years has taught us that our work is what is respected, not our personal health or over-all well-being.

Still, we try. We go to the beach. We schedule our annual trips to the amusement parks and maybe a weekend camping on the lake. But do we really relax in the summer time? For me, and for many of my contemporaries, these summer time fun excursions are as detailed as a board meeting and as tightly scheduled as a layover at O’Hare. We work as hard at our relaxation as we do at our jobs. We’re looking for rejuvenation and come out exhausted for our efforts.

So, how, with our busy lifestyles and manic schedules, can we get back a little of the relaxation our bodies so crave during the summer time? Well, there are a few options we can explore.

1. No extra projects. We’re always trying to get ahead at work and really make ourselves stand out. That drive is admirable and will take us far, but unless there is a promotion, demotion, or other career altering change on the line, summer time is not the time to be taking on extra work. We’ve got nine months every year to show the boss what we can do. I’m not advocating slouching on our duties, but to simply give summer time a nod and scale back on the extra work we’re always picking up which, in most cases, rarely garners us the proper amount of recognition, any way!