Everyday Woodworking Podcast Ep 19
SHOP NOTES
10 Ways To Enjoy Your Vacation
Hey everyone. I’m Ricky with Everyday Woodworking, your Podcast Home for tips, tricks and information on how to make the most of your woodworking time and money, every day.
INTRO
Well welcome to another week of Everyday Woodworking. In case you hear some strange sounds coming from the background, that would be the ocean!
Our family is on a short vacation this week at the beach. And brother let me tell you, we needed it. We really did.
It always seems like every year, when vacation time rolls around, we are just mentally, ready to just do anything other than work, you know? So we really needed a break.
And that’s what I wanted to talk with you about this week, with 10 Ways To Enjoy Your Vacation.
This won’t be super long or super scripted. I’m just out here on the balcony, watching the beach, feeling the breeze. And I don’t want to do much of anything that doesn’t involve sleep or relaxation! LOL!
So a few quick points for you and then we’ll call it a wrap.
DOES IT REALLY MATTER?
As a self-professed semi-workaholoic, I must confess that for a long time, I thought vacations were just Western culture foolishness. And there is some truth to that…but I really didn’t see the need for a break.
My thinking was, if you say you need a break, what that really means is you need to shut up and get back to work and stop whining.
But I don’t believe that anymore.
If you’ve listened to me much, then you know that I love my Thoreau. And of course that means I’m a fan of Walden and simplicity and waxing philosophical about things like life, gardening, and work!
The truth is, I really do value hard work. But I understand now, more than ever that working for the sake of work is something that needs some evaluating. I just don’t buy it. And I think, if anything, THAT is a Western invention. Or at least an idea that we’ve exaggerated to the point of making us unhealthy, over-stressed and unhappy.
We need a good break, at least every now and then.
You may be saying “But I thought you said you loved woodworking”! And I do. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want a break from it, periodically.
I may love my job, but it’s still work and it’s still a job.
I hate it when I see people say “Get a job doing something you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life”.
Bull.
That’s silly. Work is work. And hard work is hard work. I get the sentiment, but don’t fool yourself into believing that if you aren’t all sunshine and rainbows at your job, then you’re not in the right place.
Work, even your perfect work…is work.
And at times, you need to walk away.
TEN WAYS TO ENJOY YOUR VACATION
So I had originally planned to quote some Psychology Today and dive into he science of rest and relaxation. But honestly, I just don’t want to.
And I don’t think you want me to either.
I’m at the beach, and so I’m just going to give you my ten reasons and then I’m jumping in the water!
So let’s do it. Ten tips for helping you to enjoy your break or vacation. And these are in no particular order, and yes, they are our family’s POV. So take them with a grain of salt, if you will, and make them your own.
Remember you don’t have anywhere to be
Don’t have an itinerary
Don’t set the hotel clock
Do things you’ve never done before
Avoid work related activities
Limit social media
Eat well
Turn off the TV
Read a book
Enjoy meandering
RICKY’S WISDOM
Look, I’m no scholar. But I can tell you what I believe…and I think it’s pretty sage advice.
Work hard. Be responsible. Do your best. When it’s time to work, then work. But when it’s not, then don’t.
And that means, like I said before…take a break. Break the connection between you and work.
We live in a time when watching TV or scanning TikToks is supposed to be “relaxing”.
That’s not relaxing.
Get your butt on a vacation. Go somewhere away from work. Then do something you don’t normally do.
See something different. Eat something different. Wear some “vacation clothes”. Be a tourist and just disconnect from the world that you normally know.
It will make a difference in your life, your health and your work!
WRAP UP
Compared to our normal show, that was pretty short. But I hope you got some good info out of it.
As I said, woodworking is fun and enjoyable and for most of us listening, it’s something we really do love. But don’t fool yourself into thinking that you don’t need to set it aside every once in a while.
So work hard. Be intentional about rest. And above all, make sure you tune in every week to Everyday Woodworking!
CONCLUSION
A last couple of things, as always…if you enjoyed this episode, please take a second and leave us a great review. It makes such a difference for us…especially if listen on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.
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OK. That’s it. Have a great day. We’re headed to the pool, and I’ve got a craving for some crab legs!
See you next time…right here, on Everyday Woodworking.
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Psychology Today – Three Science Based Reasons Vacations Boost Productivity - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/feeling-it/201708/three-science-based-reasons-vacations-boost-productivity
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