Hello Sunshine. Just as the sun is peaking out, the world is opening up again to those who have stayed safe indoors due to remote work, virtual school supervision, fear of COVID-19, the comfort of online ministries and an emerging dependence on home delivery services that have met so many needs. With all of these (in)conveniences, you have likely detected some signs of a condition know to women around the world as being ‘sick and tired.’ So, you surf online for the root cause of your symptoms because Google is the new doctor. Your diagnosis: you need a pandemic time-out…a reprieve long enough to temporarily #cancelcovid and restore your peace of mind…maybe even, dare I say, you need a get-away…stat!
So, your brain rings the alarm because it recognizes that your Vitamin Sea level is low. Now comes the question… Do I retreat by plane, train or automobile? Or do I disconnect from the world and find comfort in my own home?
‘Vacation’ is no longer synonymous with travel, according to Lake Superior State University, which actually banished the word in 2009. So, ease your mind, for a time, of the ‘travel’ restrictions you’ve placed on yourself lately. No matter our high-achievements, let’s be honest, many of us are not yet in a position to take a 6-month ‘vacation’ two times a year. Thankfully, not one of us has to become a magician just to disappear into thin air; you just have to become a decision-maker.
Which will you decide for your summertime destination?
- Staycation at home;
- Nearcation close to home; or
- Vacay far away from home
Cool; you picked one. No; not that easy of a decision just yet. huh? No worries; what you read next may help you decide on your destination. Seeing that the world is currently wrestling with a public health emergency, your destination may be determined by your disposition toward ‘risk and reward,’ ‘masks and vax,’ or your innate desire to disconnect from others and basically enjoy a party of one. At a glance, see how the Activities Chart to the right may help you decide.
Literally, any decision you make here will come with risks.
Your Staycay/Nearcay invites the temptation to work part-time and accepts when supervisors and colleagues creep into your inbox to distract from your decision to vacate work for that period of time.
- Protect your peace of mind by creating an auto-responder for work email that reads, something to the effect of,
Your Name Here
Offline
August 21-29, 2021
In a perfect world, while you are living your best life outside of work, you’ve identified an actual point of contact who can respond in your absence. If not, consider adding some basic Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and their responses in your email signature to limit your time in email prison when you return to your inbox.
On the other hand, a decision to leave the safety and comfort of home then creates travel risks. When traveling outside of your physical comfort zone, the reality is that you may find difficulty avoiding crowds or avoiding close contact with unvaccinated people in your shared transportation, lodge or indoor restaurant seating areas.
- Some people may judge your decision to travel abroad at this time. Travel-shaming, particularly based on social media posts, is real.
First, you do not owe anyone an explanation. Second, people are likely most interested in seeing what others are doing to stay safe and socially distant around the world… through your lens. Therefore, your social media posts can be a learning opportunity for the masses.
Let’s also remember that some of us have survived a COVID-related scare, a winter from hell or just simply want to treat ourselves to fun in the sun, and it really did not take much to arrive at the conclusion that every day is cause for celebration.
Whether you choose a burka or bikini on the beach or a ferry ride to a neighboring island, if you set your sights on traveling outside of your bubble this summer, you can find resources at https:// wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/ noticescovid19
Cheers to summer 2021; we’ve been waiting for you.
Tisha L. Hammond is known as The Small Business CheerleaderTM. She is the International Bestselling Author of ‘Daily Devotional for Entrepreneurs: Your Season to Grow,’ a 12-week guide to faith-based, profit-first entrepreneurship. Find her weekly ‘Pep Talk LIVE’ on YouTube and at www.tishahammond.com.