Work, life and things in between – Day 22: A reversed vacation!
Remember my weight lifting class that got rescheduled to next week? Well, this is next week and I have not matured a bit since then, so I call and cancel. The logic is that I will miss two of the five classes since I will be away for two weeks, but the real reason is that you are not getting me out of the house by 8.30 am.
What was I thinking when I booked that class? Must have been one of those days when I was on overdrive. Besides, I still have too much to do.
It is similar to being on a Caribbean vacation, but on the reverse. While on vacation you can enjoy yourself because you know what you are coming back to. Whereas coming back from vacation is a no-brainer, thinking about going back to work after a significant pause may be, well I don’t know what it is. That’s just it and that is what is on my mind….what happens after the sabbatical? As if just starting it was not enough to keep my mind busy.
What are the things you think one might “have to” do while off work?
Well, for starter;
- Set up your new computer, your new mobile phone,
- Update all your contacts with your new data info,
- Set up your home files to track your busyness expenses (if you are going into consulting),
- Decide which Associations, groups, forums etc. you should belong to,
- What training or professional development you should pursue,
- Decide whether you want to keep your frequent flyer status and commit to what it takes (time and money) to maintain it,
- Identify the friends you have neglected over the years and with whom you want to reconnect,
- Book your medical appointments, mammogram, financial planner and other long neglected professionals you should see regularly,
- Establish a fitness program and stick to it. To do so review local classes, programs, location etc.,
- Dust that piano which has not had much of your attention and get back to practicing regularly,
- Pull that list of best sellers you have been keeping and start making your way down that pile,
- Surf the local papers to make sure you capture all the events and exhibits you always invariably missed but wanted to see,
- Work Yoga and meditation back into your schedule,
- Identify a worthy cause to volunteer to and, yes of course,
- Pick up cooking again.
So when I am awake at four (4) a.m.and want to get up and get started, it is on account of all those things twirling in my mind. Maybe I should add juggling to my list.
Frankly I may as well admit it. Seriously. All that noise and business are mostly there to tame the enemy; My own fears. Anyone could tell me that.
The fear of not being able to go back to work for lack of talent, desire, energy or simply ability to land a good job. This is real and ever present. That is fear of the unknown. I figured this much!
So much of your identity is associated with work. It is in fact more than associated; it is ingrained in your job. Not having a title and a business card are huge. This is not necessarily healthy, nor is it easy to admit, but nevertheless, it is true.
To some people, not having an agenda driven by the business or anything to deliver on a deadline is equally difficult. I can deal with the latter more easily. I can create my own agenda, no problem. However not being associated to a job is odd. Not unpleasant, but uncomfortable. It is liberating, filled with possibilities and let’s face it, a nice break, but it is also destabilizing.
Deep down I think it will be exciting because whatever I will go to will be something I am compelled to do, but from the starting line where I stand, it is at times scary. Surely, things will get better as I move on.Remember my weight lifting class that got rescheduled to next week? Well, this is next week and I have not matured a whole lot since then, so I call and cancel. The logic is that I will miss two of the five classes since I will be away for two weeks, but the real reason is that you are not getting me out of the house by 8.30 am.
What was I thinking when I booked that class? Must have been one of those days when i was on overdrive. Besides, I still have too much to do.
It is similar to being on a Caribbean vacation, but on the reverse. You can enjoy your vacation because you know what you are coming back to. Whereas coming back from vacation is a no brainer, coming back to work after a sabbatical is, well I don’t know what it is. That’s just it and that is what is on my mind….what happens after the sabbatical? As if just starting the sabbatical was not enough to keep my mind busy.
What are the things you think one might “have to” do while on sabbatical?
Well, for starter;
So when I am awake at four (4) a.m.and want to get up and get started, it is on account of all those things twirling in my mind. Maybe I should add juggling to my list.
Frankly I may as well admit it. Seriously. All that noise and business are mostly there to tame the enemy; My own fears. Anyone could tell me that.
The fear of not being able to go back to work for lack of talent, desire, energy or simply ability to land a good job. This is real and ever present.
So much of your identity is associated with work. It is in fact more than associated; it is ingrained in your job. Not having a title and a business card are huge. This is not necessarily healthy, nor is it easy to admit, but nevertheless, it is true.
To some people, not having an agenda driven by the business or anything to deliver on a deadline is equally difficult. I can deal with the latter more easily. I can create my own agenda, no problem. However not being associated to a job is odd. Not unpleasant, but uncomfortable. It is liberating, filled with possibilities and let’s face it, a nice break, but it is also destabilizing.
Deep down I think it will be exciting because whatever I will go to will be something I am compelled to do, but from the starting line where I stand, it is at times scary. Surely, things will get better as I move on.