Design a Perfect Summer
Writing from a balcony in El Condado, San Juan, Puerto Rico that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, I realize the trick to making the best out of your summer is to design it your way.
If you’ re racing to work this morning, daydreaming about a much-needed vacation or wondering if you’ll ever be able use the summer hours afforded to you by your employer, keep reading. Here are three summer vacation design tips for you to chew on:
Summer Design Tip #1
Don’t take time off, create time off. Whether you’re a boot-strapping entrepreneur like me or a corporate professional who doesn’t dare take time off because your projects will suffer, you are hurting yourself by not creating the time to reboot. Remember, we all have to fuel our genius and our colleagues, clients, partners, and bosses benefit from us returning with a full tank of experiences, insights, and new stories versus being someone who is running on empty throughout the summer season.
Summer Design Tip #2
Genius travels on a budget. To afford this family vacation, I decided to stay with family for two days and then found a Hilton promotion to pay for three nights and get a fourth night for free. This enabled me to take a week-long vacation for the cost of three nights. Get creative with your budget. Do your research, ask friends, subscribe to a few travel discount newsletters, and take advantage of summer promotions. Believe me, they can save you a heck of a lot of money. Hey, budget isn’t a four-letter word, you know!
Summer Design Tip #3
Don’t drink it away. When you make the time to fuel your genius with a mini-vacation, use the precious time in a healthy state versus an intoxicated one. If you have to have that morning mimosa or rum runner, have one instead of three. Experience your vacation in real time, fully present and able to take in every breeze, sound, flavor, and color in an active state of mind. Alcohol numbs your senses to a degree and although you may think it adds to your experience it actually reduces it. Instead of running up a monster bar tab on your vacation, try my “one drink rule.” Let yourself have one drink per day, any drink you like. For example, it could be one mojito on Monday, one glass of wine with dinner on Tuesday, one beer by the pool on Wednesday and so on. Try it, you’ll be pleasantly surprised how moderation enhances your experience.
You are the designer and curator of your life. Design wisely this summer and don’t let my favorite season go to waste.
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