Experience & lessons from my first Workcation
This post is #8 in a #17 post series about workcations. The learn more about workcations and see the full eBook, check out Workcation. Have the best life now! on Amazon. It's free to borrow, if you have a Kindle device or Amazon Prime.
The idea of having a bonfire, sleeping in a tent, showering, and returning to work may not excite everyone, but it warmed my spirit! I felt I became so accustomed to the comforts of my house – running hot shower, comfortable bed, and toilet – as well as the comforts of technology – including watching programmed DVR television, perfectly arranging my Netflix queue, responding to email at a moment’s notice – that I lost touch with unplugging during the workweek. The idea of going somewhere local and unplugging for a few days, while still going to work and contributing during the day, made me feel I could have the best of both worlds – a stable career and dedicated time to relax.
The idea of having a bonfire, sleeping in a tent, showering, and returning to work may not excite everyone, but it warmed my spirit! I felt I became so accustomed to the comforts of my house – running hot shower, comfortable bed, and toilet – as well as the comforts of technology – including watching programmed DVR television, perfectly arranging my Netflix queue, responding to email at a moment’s notice – that I lost touch with unplugging during the workweek. The idea of going somewhere local and unplugging for a few days, while still going to work and contributing during the day, made me feel I could have the best of both worlds – a stable career and dedicated time to relax.
My first
workcation was spring 2013 for two days at Doheny Campground, a surfer’s
campsite retreat along the beach in southern Orange County. It was from
Tuesday-Thursday. I was reluctant to tell my coworkers what I was doing outside
work, as I didn’t want to worry about how the lingering smell of campfire may
distract from team meetings and projects. I invited a few friends to join me on
the adventure. Although the idea seemed too radical or irrational to most, one
of my best friends, Wally, joined me in the adventure and we were off!
On Tuesday night,
Wally and I arrived at the campsite after work around 5:30PM and had sense of
giddiness. For the first time in a long time, we were breaking out of our
comfort zone by simply breaking upon our tents on the beach. An activity that
is supposed to be enjoyed during “vacation hours” or “on the weekend” suddenly
became an adventure, as we broke out of our normal routines and found time to
relax. We turned off our phones, made camp, and enjoyed a bonfire complete with
BBQ and s’mores.
We woke up the
next morning with a sense of reawakening to our senses. Instead of turning on
the coffee pot and heading into the shower, we jumped into the Pacific and went
for a swim. The ocean’s chill temperature refreshed the body and the pounding
waves helped awaken the senses. We were alive! The day was fresh and full of
opportunity!
The first full
work day after the workcation was exciting. I felt like I had a secret. The real secret wasn’t that I went camping
the night before, but that I knew of a way to recharge, refresh, and reclaim a
feeling of independence and hope. I felt that I had unplugged from the life
around me and was able to reconnect and replug with a fresh perspective and
sense of engagement. The lingering, but small odor from campfire didn’t slow
down my workday. I actually found myself more productive during the day – both
as motivation to return to the campsite again, as well as having the time to be
unplugged from our constantly plugged in society. These were only the feelings
after the first night of the workcation! I was excited for night two!
Wally and I
returned to the second night of workcation with a larger crowd. Several of our
friends, including Ashley, my beautiful girlfriend and now wife, joined us for
a bonfire. Some of our friends were amazed that we returned to work after
camping the first night and others thought it was a little crazy. No matter
what our friends thought, this is what their own opinion. I had learned to be
less concerned with their thought and appreciate my own experience, which was
that it was refreshing, different and placing me more in touch with my friends and
myself.
We finished the
second night of the workcation, returned to work, and put behind our past as we
started to focus again on our future. The workcation was almost a respite and
restart button that helped trigger a new sense of purpose. Similar to starting
the New Year fresh with a clean slate of resolutions, the workcation was an
opportunity to evaluate our life direction and put into focus what was
important to us.
It’s amazing how
vivid the memories of that experience still are. I’ve probably worked hundreds of
days since then and I may not be able to tell you what I did last week during
the work week, as it falls into my normal routine. However, when we break out
of our comfort zone and routine, we are able to enjoy more of ourselves and
create lasting memories that carry on for years and possibly even a lifetime.
I can go on and on
about the details of the first overnight workcation, but this book is not about
me, it’s about YOU! And the rest of this book is to help you get started with
your own workcation! Even if it’s a small workcation, such as a short walk in a
park after work, or an extended overnight adventure, it’s time to get started!
To learn more about how you can enhance your life, check out Workcation. It's available to borrow for free via an Amazon Kindle.
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