The Rush to Relax
Welcome to May Days! In Croatian culture, May Day is celebrated with picnics and barbecues at parks and beaches. In my dreams, I envision the month of May to be filled with the same.
Sadly, my reality is more mayday than May Days.
Mayday is the international symbol of distress. The term is derived from the French phrase "m'aider," meaning "help me".
I need help! May is my busiest month of the year. And, I am sprinting to have everything done by Memorial Day Weekend.
Am I the only one who RUSHES to RELAX?
Maybe it's just me. I am starting to think that my May distress is entirely self-created.
The weeks before my time off are ridiculous. I set ambitious deadlines and then exhaust myself with dramatic attempts to get everything done. I believe:
If I can get everything done AND get ahead, I’ll be able relax more.
To vacation without worry, I create more worry. My mind races.
What needs to be done before I go?
Should I unplug or stay connected?
Is it really a vacation if I am still responding to emails, texts and phone calls?
I can’t just leave. I don’t want any mess or mistakes.
What if something gets missed while I’m gone?
Who will cover for me?
How bad will it be when I get back?
Did I code my calendar and mark my apps?
Did I set up auto-response on my devices?
Who needs to know I’ll be unavailable?
When I tell people I’ll soon be out for vacation, I am bombarded with:
Hey, before you go…
This can’t wait until you are back.
I rush to get it all done by working late nights and early mornings. Extra meetings “before I go” consume my days. Inevitably, my Mayday distress turns into deprivation. I don’t sleep well. I don’t eat well. I don’t breathe well.
And why the rush?!!
Because I need to RELAX!!!
I need help.
Mayday! Would someone please save me from my senseless self?
Something must change – and I am sure it is me!
Am I the only one who rushes to relax?
Maybe there’s 12-step program to learn how to Rush Responsibly. I imagine the pillars of the program would be:
Do your best without the need for deadline drama. It’s only a deadline if someone’s life is genuinely on the line.
Timelines and agreements are adjustable with proactive communication.
Build in Buffer Days before and after every vacation.
Buffer Days mean “no new meetings or new projects” for 2 days before a vacation and 2 days after a vacation. Buffer days provide time to wind down and then catch up.
Many corporations and bad managers are unclear about the concept of Buffer Days. They favor a form of employee manipulation, known as “corporate sprints” to keep people in a Hustle Culture. That’s a Mayday in the making!
Don’t let sprints turn into marathons. It’s not sustainable to value a rapid pace over employee well-being. For me and for anyone else who is rushing to relax:
It’s time to restart the race at a more balanced pace.
May Days are here, and summer is coming. Bring on the picnics and barbecues! I need to relax without the rush.
