Time off? Vacation? Many people on a farm don’t buy into the rationale of taking time away and summer is a busy time for everyone in agriculture.  After all, if you love what you do, every day is a vacation, right?  “Wrong!” is what my response would be to that after a few days away. Let me ask you this…

• When are you going to make time to create special memories with your family? Before you know it, their car will go down the road to college…
• How will your mindset improve by getting away from your standard routine? Distance offers perspective.
• Would your creativity improve with different scenery? Getting out of your environment and relaxing both lead to greater creativity.
• How are you modeling life balance to others? I don’t want to be a hypocrite here, so can’t make any other comments – but would encourage you to contemplate your balance.
• Are you able to delegate pieces of your business? Even dairy farmers, who have to milk 365 days/year, need a back-up plan. If you don’t  have one, your business is broken.
• Have you considered that your work is replaceable? I don’t think you can say the same about your mental or physical health.
• Where can you connect with others who need your heart or do your heart good? Different places provide you with new connections – and likely with those different than you.
• How do you want to be remembered?  Workaholic or well-rounded human? It seems those living congruently with their life goals carry the greatest legacy.
• What happens to your spirit when you’re working non-stop? I’d suggest you consider the need for renewal for you and others in your life.

Personally, vacations give me the endurance to balance the demands of motherhood, entrepreneurship, speaking and farm. I never had a vacation growing up (the cows always took precedent), so it’s become a priority in our family’s life. And it’s almost always done with a ban on technology.  It’s always hard to step way from the ever-present demands of life and business, but I find time away increases productivity, clears my head, offers much-needed distance and provides perspective. More importantly, it builds a treasure chest of memories for our family and friends – and make me a better human being. I hope you’ve invested in building your own treasury. If not, then why not get started now?