Take Your Vacation, Fundraiser — You Earned It!

I have been driven my entire career. Having played sports during my younger days, I was taught to play hurt. It didn't matter how you felt, you had to give 100 percent effort even on your off days. I actually cracked several ribs during a high school football game. The doctor taped me up at halftime, and while I couldn't breathe, I played the second half then went to the hospital.

I was proud of the fact I never took time off and blessed that I was rarely sick. I was the first to arrive and the last one to leave.

Another time, I was injured during a softball game and needed surgery to repair my face. I ran into a thrown ball. I was in the hospital on a Friday night and back to work on Monday morning. I felt I was needed on the job, and the organization could not do without me. As I grew older and wiser, I realized my view of the work world was foolish.

You should give your best effort knowing that at times you cannot perform at the highest level. You must also look at your health and pace yourself like a marathon runner. I realized I cannot sprint every moment of my workday.

I hate to admit it, but for many years, I took work with me on my vacations. If I didn't have physical work to read or study, I would think about my ever-expanding to-do list. If I did take a vacation, I would return to work with a feeling that I didn't truly take time off to enjoy the moment.

Several years ago, my theory of vacations changed. I worked at a small, private university that was undergoing massive change. I took the position for personal, not professional reasons. While the work environment wasn't positive, my department still won a Council for Advancement and Support award in the improvement category.

One day, the president of the university called me into his dark office and, with a witness, said he was eliminating the entire development division immediately. For the first time in my career, I felt shocked, betrayed, hurt and unappreciated. I learned the hard way that despite excellent performance reviews, unless you work for yourself, you cannot control your employer.

The vacation days I skipped, the times I worked overtime and the sick days I did not use came into clear view. The point of this story is now clear. If you earn sick days and are sick, take the day and rest. When you accrue vacation days, take them and do not think about work. It will be there when you return.

A good employer will encourage this practice to support the health and well-being of its employees. By the way, the president of that university, where I was dismissed, was eventually fired by the board of trustees.

So, my 10 new rules for vacations that you must happily take are as follows:

1. Rest your body, mind and spirit.
2. Do not think about anything stressful.
3. Have fun on your vacation, and get away from town if at all possible.
4. Keep the work cellphone, laptop and other work electronic items off.
5. Be with people you care about on vacation.
6. Create memories.
7. Look forward to your next vacation.
8. Realize your employer can function without you.
9. Trust your staff to do its job in your absence.
10. Sleep late, work out and plan not to plan during your time off — relax.

You will return to work refreshed and ready to get back to the grind in a positive mode. I am breaking my new rule as I write this blog on vacation. Now that I am done, I will enjoy my last three days off the clock!