What could I do more of? In the United States, time is money. We could always be doing more. More of what, one might ask. Well, more of anything.

This year I have honed the art of taking breaks from work. A break is a vacation from work, without traveling too far. I have done this multiple times this year, and I love it! In the nursing world, burnout is inevitable. It can and will happen at many points in our careers. To nip the burnout in the bud, I have learned to use the time off benefit. The benefit that mostly everyone feels guilty about using. But not me… and not anymore!

I use these breaks to visit with friends who never seem to get a weekend off. I sleep in. I exercise when I want, and without any time constraints. Grocery shopping is easy because again… I can go exactly when I want to. Having a nap midday? You guessed it: I can do it whenever I want to. I don’t worry about it, because I am having a break. Going to see the latest exhibits at the museum mid week with less crowds, no problem. Going to the beach midweek, superb. Spa day… sure! Having coffee and rugelach from the local bakery… why not? Have an impromptu day trip driving around within a hundred mile radius… the world is your oyster.

Quite frankly, I think all of us need more staycations as some lovingly refer to it. Why wait till retirement to enjoy our communities mid week? There are no rules that state in order to take time off of work that one must go on an airplane to another state or country. If you want and/or need a break, then just take one. It’s just as satisfying, and less tiring than traveling to a far away land. Plus you don’t have to unpack.

As the younger generations would coin, “say less”, or am I thinking “do less”. I suppose both notions count!

-Keri