Summer Vacation: A Real Break, or Change of Scenery?

Taking time off in the summer is as common as the common cold. Just as the change of seasons brings on the sniffles for many of us, the summer months are a time to pack up our cars and leave our office behind, heading out for some fun and sun. Some of us head out to our favorite destination in June right after school ends, while others prefer to wait until August, venturing out just before school starts up again and clients expect us to be in our offices.

Any way we do it, most of us take a summertime vacation. The intention as we head out is always the same. We want to leave the daily grind behind, spend quality time away from our office, recharge the proverbial batteries, and come back fully rested and ready to embrace the challenges of the real world all over again.

The question I want to raise is: do we truly take a vacation, or do we remain focused on our work – or worse – do we stay completely connected while we are away from the office? Are we able to allow ourselves some time to take a well deserved mental break from our work-related commitments and focus on ourselves, our loved ones, hobbies, or whatever else we strive to do when we are away from our desks? Or, do we physically leave the office for a period of time, call it a vacation because that’s what our significant others and kids want us to do, but remain completely connected to our clients and colleagues while we are away?

Sure, we all have good intentions when we begin our vacations. We intend to relax, catch up on our reading, or simply enjoy the freedom from our daily planners for a short while. But how many of us truly stay away while we are away? Technology allows us to remain connected in so many ways that has become impossible to completely check out of the office – even for a relatively short period of time. Cell phone networks are stronger than ever, so there are few places we can hide. And cell phones are no longer just simple calling devices. They allow us to take our office along with us, empowering us to check email, download attachments, text message, and check websites. If that’s not enough, our laptops with wireless connections are not far behind us – either in the car or on our kitchen tables, ready to go on a moment’s notice.

I confess that I find myself trapped somewhere between the workaholic and true vacationer while I am away from my office. During my vacation week, I spend quality time with my wife and children without my Blackberry attached to my hip. But I also make business-related calls, read email, examine spreadsheets or plan for our latest venture. What about you? Are you truly away from your office when you’re on vacation or are you so attached that when you return you don’t feel like you were really on vacation at all? Are you somewhere in the middle like me? Chime in and let us know. It’s OK to be honest. Your family and colleagues know the truth anyway.