{"id":6555,"date":"2025-01-20T16:39:40","date_gmt":"2025-01-20T16:39:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.blueleaf.com\/blog\/the-most-effective-schedule-ive-had-in-two-years-and-why-theres-nothing-like-it\/"},"modified":"2025-01-20T16:39:46","modified_gmt":"2025-01-20T16:39:46","slug":"the-most-effective-schedule-ive-had-in-two-years-and-why-theres-nothing-like-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blueleaf.com\/blog\/the-most-effective-schedule-ive-had-in-two-years-and-why-theres-nothing-like-it\/","title":{"rendered":"The Most Effective Schedule I\u2019ve Had In Two Years and Why There’s Nothing Like It"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"kauai\"<\/p>\n

10:00am Parrot talk.\u00a0Swim, snorkel, kayak.
\n3:30pm Popsicles by the pool.\u00a0
\nWalk the beach.
\nCheck out the sea turtles.<\/p>\n

That was the extent of my \u2018schedule\u2019 for the past week. I just returned from a vacation with my husband and two children on the beautiful island of Kaua\u2019i. What a phenomenal place to spend quality time together. And, what made it extra special? The computer and the iPhone were off. No email, no Internet. Just my\u00a0\u2018Out of Office’ email<\/a>\u00a0turned on.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been nearly two years since I took a week off, completely sans<\/i> access. That sounds ridiculous as I type this. Why did I go that long without a real hiatus?!\u00a0 <\/i>I take long weekend breaks fairly often;\u2019 however, the true disconnect (of at least 7 days) should happen at least once a year, if not a few times! Vacation— true Time Off with a capital T. O. — is one of the BEST strategies to take your business to the next level.<\/p>\n

Why?\u00a0 It\u2019s the perspective shift. You get to look at your life, your business from a new angle. Free to contemplate the endless possibilities while staring at the ocean opens our thoughts to fresh ideas and approaches. You give yourself a chance to (re)fuel your inspiration and preempt jadedness for your goals.<\/p>\n

What’s my secret to rejuvenate during these trips? Do I tackle the work that I want to “catch up” on? Not a chance. Do I keep a journal and brainstorm ideas? I don’t.<\/p>\n

I let go. By giving myself permission to re-engage when I return, I essentially allow the ‘meditation’ of thoughts floating in and out all week, not attaching to any single one. When I walk back in the office I plug in to this energy and see what resonates with me. \u00a0I confess, it took a while to master vacation without at least a notebook, but when you let go 100%, you break frameworks in which your mind yearns to stay.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the usual outcome: What I thought possible prior to the trip now seems small and limited. I will return with an even bigger version for myself.<\/p>\n

And, if I don’t, I still win. As much as I enjoy the work I do, a day at the pool overlooking the Pacific Ocean or a walk on the beach with the island breeze wins every time.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, you don’t need Hawaii<\/strong> to get all these vacation benefits. Small daily routines (like spending your first hour of the day offline) can emulate the vacation effect.
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