Determining The Need For An Intermission

I came across this quote the other day:

When the well's dry, we know the worth of water.

-Benjamin Franklin

I thought about the need for an intermission. When I sense something is missing (or amiss), it reminds me of the need to step back, replenish and then move forward more effectively. I started playing with the quote and came up with:

When ____________________, I know the worth of an intermission.

I entered phrases like:

• When my eyes have trouble focusing on the words on a computer screen
• When I get a "short fuse" with people around me (work and/or personal)
• When I don't have a creative thought left within me
• When I start thinking that no one is giving me a standing ovation
• When my lineup keeps getting longer and longer-and I haven't even gotten the first task completed
• When I have given away so much of myself to others that I have nothing left for myself

What are some of the indicators in your work or life that tell you it's time for an intermission?

Being The Best Ringmaster

I came across this quote during my "self ring time" the other day. It's from Helen Keller:
The best-educated human being is the one who understands most about the life in which he is placed.

I put a Juggling Elephants spin on it so that it reads, "The best-educated Ringmaster is the one who understands most about the circus in which he is placed." So often after someone reads Juggling Elephants or participates in one of our training programs they comment that "This was so much more than what I expected. I thought the program was just about time management or work-life balance, but I found myself looking deeper into all aspects of my work and life."

We believe that long term professional and personal improvement can only come when people take a comprehensive evaluation of all areas of their life-and then determine strategies to improve. That' not a one-time process. To best understand our situations, we must take regular, planned examinations of ourselves. The question to ask yourself today might be, "How much do I understand about my current life situation?" And if the answers aren't quickly forthcoming, it's time to do some digging.

B and C Vacations

I give complete credit of this idea to our friends Michelle and Kevin. I think it is a great way to look at the type of intermissions that we take. They explained to me that they plan two types of vacations. "B Vacations" and "C Vacations." A "B Vacation" is where they go to just relax, take it easy and "be." A "C Vacation" is where they go to "see" things, run from place to place, play hard, etc.

Sometimes it is important to have "Be Vacations" for just recharging our batteries. If we are run down and end up taking a "See Vacation" then we can sometimes come back to work in worse shape than we left. We have all returned from an intermission stating that we need a vacation from the vacation.

Another variation on the theme is to schedule a vacation with the first half being the "see" part and the second half being the "be" part. Take a few days at the end of your vacation to relax, rest your feet and unwind before heading back to your normal routine. You will return from your intermission with renewed energy and ready to tackle the other acts in your circus.

A Simple Intermission

I personally think of an intermission as a long vacation on a beach, a good book, family and lots of free time. This past weekend reminded me that there is such a thing as a "power intermission." Usually my Saturdays are filled with "To Dos" around the house. I usually end the day physically exhausted and pay for it the next day.

This last Saturday I did something different. I spent a few hours in the morning doing a few odd jobs but then our family got away. We spent the afternoon at a cabin in the mountains. We watched a movie, threw some burgers on the grill, I took a nap, read a book and played a board game with my wife and daughters. Sunday was relaxing as well. I was very surprised what a difference it made on Monday. I had more energy. I was rested. I felt mentally prepared for the week. A Power Intermission! It worked for me... it might work for you.

Planning for A Summer "Intermission"

With the struggling economy and increased expectations in the workplace, I have found that several people I know are not taking a vacation from work this Summer. Even if they are, their plans often sound like a rushed retreat that will result in them being more tired and less motivated than when they left.

I found an intriguing article about the need to take a break from work:
Recession Fears Threaten Worker's Vacation Plans

The authors, Milo and Thuy Sindell, give the following fantastic rationale for taking time off from work: You are not helpful to the company and your coworkers when you are not operating at full capacity. Vacations help you to get rejuvenated to come back to work at full capacity.

They also give excellent tips on saving on the cost of a vacation and on insuring that work continues in the office while you are absent. Check it out before you check out this Summer!