Trying to Get Away—Actually, This Time
For most of my professional life, I have worn busyness almost as a badge of honor. Deadlines, client calls, projects, travel, writing, podcasting, and the constant pull of philanthropy work have filled my days. If I am honest, stepping away from work has never come naturally to me. Part of that is simple habit. Part of it is that I genuinely enjoy what I do. Part of it, however, is something less admirable: I am a workaholic.
I often convince myself that one more email, one more article, one more project review will somehow make things better. There is always another task waiting. The problem is that work expands to fill whatever space we give it. If left unchecked, it can quietly consume time that belongs to other parts of life.
I have never valued vacations enough. I have viewed them as interruptions rather than investments. Even when away, I have often remained tethered to my laptop and phone, checking messages, solving problems, and keeping one foot firmly planted in the office. Physically absent, mentally present.
This summer, I am trying to do something different.
My family and I are getting away together, and I am making a conscious effort to pull back from work. Not eliminate it completely. That may be unrealistic for me. But reduce it significantly. Spend more time with my wife. Be more present with my children. Have conversations that are not squeezed between meetings. Enjoy a meal without checking notifications. Sit outside without wondering what is waiting in my inbox.
I may even attempt something that feels surprisingly foreign: reading a real book for pleasure.
Not a business book. Not a leadership book. Not a philanthropy book. A book chosen simply because I want to read it. The fact that I cannot remember the last time I did that says something about how thoroughly work has occupied my attention.
Research consistently shows that time away from work is not merely enjoyable; it is healthy. Regular breaks and vacations can reduce stress, lower the risk of burnout, improve sleep quality, and support cardiovascular health. Mental recovery improves creativity, decision making, and focus. The brain benefits from periods of rest just as muscles benefit from recovery after exercise. Constant output without recovery eventually comes with a cost.
I know all of this intellectually. The challenge is putting it into practice.
So, this summer, I am going to try. I am going to try to be more present, more available to my family, and less connected to work. I am going to try to value rest as much as productivity. I am going to try to remember that life is larger than the next project or the next deadline.
It will not be easy. Old habits rarely surrender without a fight.
But I am going to try anyway.
