There seems to be a misconception that things slow down in the summer as people take vacations, enjoy long weekends, or have summer hours where they leave early on a Friday. I used to enjoy that luxury at one time when I worked in a traditional workplace and had legitimate vacation days and a staff to support me while home and away.
I’ve been on my own for nearly 17 years now and as I laughingly tell people about my work life, every day is a potential vacation day just as every day is a potential work day. I enjoy that flexibility. I can take time off whenever I need to and I can work almost anytime, anyplace even if my most productive output is between 7-11 a.m. working out of my home office. Admittedly, I’m way less productive on the road.
Speaking of the road, I’m taking one of those unpaid vacations starting this Thursday afternoon and won’t be back until Sept. 7. I’m trying hard not to make this one of those working vacations. The goal is to only deal with e-mail. I think that’s what most of us do today anyway, turning our vacations into part-time working vacations.
The reality is we are mired in a never-out-of-touch world and for better or for worse, that’s the way it is. For me it’s better. I remember not so long ago going on vacation and dreading the hundreds of e-mails waiting for me upon my return. The ability to deal with e-mail while on vacation rather than when I return takes the edge off. And there’s nothing like taking the edge off. After all, it usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes a day. I can deal with that.
I’ll be in Paris and Bruges next week, but The Week in Imaging won’t have the week off. That’s why it’s called The Week in Imaging. Next week’s issue is set up and ready to go.
Have a nice long weekend and enjoy your Labor Day.
Thanks for reading.
