Not Only Should You Schedule Time off – You Should Celebrate it.
I enjoy the work I do. I like long days and late nights. 4hr calls feel like a waste of a day to me. But when you work a lot – you also need time off. Not just to sleep and recover from long days. You also need to enjoy the life you have created. Start by making a list of ideas. However dumb they might be. You don’t need to tell people. Plan something different on a day off and just go do It.
My Dumb List
I had the idea of eating a lobster roll. So I thought I would fly to Maine in July and get a lobster roll for lunch and one for supper. And then fly home the next day. During the month of July I had a couple weeks open. I was about to get a plane ticket But I realized I can be spontaneous around town – I know where everything is located. Not in Maine – I know nothing. I don’t know where the airports are located or how far the airport is away from a good lobster roll. Do I need a rental car – Can I just use a Lyft – When is Lobster season? I didn’t not know – So I didn’t go. Weeks Later I did met a girl in a bar from Maine and she told me where to go. It was fun to plan and think about. So next year – maybe.
Your list of Ideas can be really dumb to other people. It is your list. It does not matter what other people think.
I did tell someone about the trip to Maine. She said I should make it a longer trip. Fly to Maine. Book a boat to take me out so I could catch the Lobster. Take that lobster to a place where they would make me a lobster roll – with the lobster I caught. I thought my idea was different but hers was way better.
What do you want to do? Where do you want to go?
12 Fun Days
I try to have 12 fun days every year – Not Work related. I keep track of it. It is 
not just going out to a bar But doing something that I wanted to do. Last year most of the 12 days were concerts. Bands I want to see. Bands I paid to see. Besides the 12 fun days I also have Vikings season tickets. Some companies don’t like it but I take every home and away game off.
It gets cold in Minnesota in December. I take most of December off. 2019 I did go to my first Vikings away game in LA. We flew out to San Diego for a couple days and then went to La for a couple more days. The flight was $11 – I used my Delta Sky Miles. The Stadium was 90% Vikings fans. It was a great time. 2020 tickets for December have already been paid for – again with Sky Miles.
After taking time off – I still ended up working about 200 days And worked over 2100 hrs.
You Need to Spend Time getting Work – Build Your Network – Get More Referrals
Once You Have the Work – Find Creative Ways to Have Fun.
Great Seats Tailgate Gophers Game Football In December
It Is Important To Schedule Time Off
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Ryan Conlon is a highly experienced Corporate Freelance Lighting Designer with two decades of dedicated work in the entertainment industry. With a passion for creating captivating lighting experiences, Ryan has contributed his expertise to numerous corporate meetings, stage productions, concerts, and events throughout his career.