Need a Break When Time is of the Essence? Try a Mini-Vacation.

Often times you need a short break...a respite from work to get re-energized. It's either not time for vacation or you just don't have time to get away from it all. Why not take a one-day mini-vacation? Planning does not take much time and most of the time, you can take this mini-vacation right in your city or certainly nearby. Here's how the mini-vacation works.

Schedule a day off. Most companies are lenient allowing you to schedule a day off with advance notice of a week or less. If this is not the case with your company, try appealing to your supervisor. Let him or her know that a day off would actually increase your productivity by allowing time for rejuvenation. I believe honesty is the best policy. Of course, you can also go with the proverbial sick day and call in......I don't particularly recommend this approach.

Choose a nice hotel or resort in your city. I prefer four or five star properties that spoil you. Normally most of us don't stay in hotels in our city so it's likely that while you may have visited the property for another activity, you likely have not booked a room there. A mini-vacation is extra special and engenders a sense of excitement if this is the case.

Schedule a spa visit or another activity at the hotel that you enjoy. You can also choose an activity that is not at the hotel but still in your city. Choose something that you have always wanted to do but just have not got around to doing it. Maybe a wine tasting excursion, a visit to the museum, or checking out a tourist attraction (hey, it's okay to be a tourist in your own city). Just remember to make it something that appeals to you and that engages your senses.

Make a dinner reservation either at the hotel or at a unique restaurant. Pick a restaurant in which you preferably have never eaten and one that is top rated. I like to pick restaurants from the top 100 in my city. Of course, eventually you will have tried them all. When that happens, you can just start over!

Now that you have scheduled everything you are ready to go. Pack your bag the day before your mini-vacation so that you can take it to work. You're going on vacation right after your workday. This is definitely a leave-on-time or leave-early day. Arrive at your hotel and check-in. If you are a spa person, a massage or treatment right after you check-in and relax is perfect. If you are not a spa person, maybe a happy hour drink at the hotel lounge is right up your alley. The idea is to begin decompression and relax immediately after your work day.

After a few hours, it is time for dinner at your chosen restaurant. Dress up and make it special....or not. It's up to you. You are going to enjoy a fine leisurely dinner. No rushing allowed.

End the evening with a relaxing tub soak before turning it or if you are a night owl, try the hotel lounge or a favorite movie in your room.

The next morning, indulge with breakfast in bed or in the hotel restaurant if you like. You can then start your chosen activity and enjoy the day (don't forget to check out of the hotel!).

In the evening, you arrive home rejuvenated, refreshed, and ready to continue tackling that important project the next morning. You will be astounded at the new perspectives that you will gain from your mini-vacation!

Working on a Cloudy Sunday

Today I awoke to cloudy skies which surprised me given yesterday's sunny demeanor. Yet it seemed somewhat appropriate as this was scheduled as a work day to complete a merger project. I got up to get ready and noticing that Sydney, my pit bull was not near, I called her. She had taken up residence in one of the bedrooms snuggled in bed. Doesn't she know dogs do not sleep in people beds? I guess not (smile). She saw that I was up and followed me for the morning ritual.

I was the first to arrive at work. The others followed and soon we were all in sync to get the job done. What teamwork and dedication! The staff did not break for lunch until 2:30 p.m. I went to Subway to pick up sandwiches and cookies as an extra treat. We finished around 4:00 p.m. Mission accomplished!

Some might be resentful of working on a Sunday when it is not a normal work day. Not me. I enjoyed the challenge of a special project and was invigorated. This merger project was difficult but as I was driving home I felt such a sense of achievement at completing this major piece. It was exhilarating!

My entry as a first-time blogger

I have wanted to try out blogging for a while and decided to just do it. I'm old school so this is new for me. I'm broadening my horizons.

My blog is called thoughts on life, work, and family which is pretty standard. What is interesting about this title is the order in which the topics came to me which is exactly how I typed them. I'm a career woman and work is a significant part of my life. My family is small....parents deceased, husband, grown son, two siblings, some nieces and nephews. My family life is a very close second to work and both areas of my life are interchanged from time to time in importance depending on the occasion. Most people might be embarrassed to rate family as a close second but I believe in being honest to one's self.

Are there any other first-time bloggers are there? Are there any other work with family as a close second folks out there?