What If....

"I only get four weeks of vacation a year," says Harley in his adorable New Zealand accent. After all, the twenty-something from Auckland was disappointed he didn't have more time to enjoy in Europe but you know what? He took every day of those four weeks off from work and traveled the world. Cell-phone less, e-mail free, Blackberry who?

This got me thinking. After recently writing a What If piece for the latest issue of Women for Hire Magazine as it relates to having a liberal personal day policy like the French for example, his comment couldn't have resonated with me more profoundly as I proudly took 2 1/2 weeks from work for the very same vacation (an amazing group tour with contiki!!) Thoughts further ensued: as Americans, why don't we use all of our vacation time? As in truly, madly, deeply use them as in detach and detox. Completely. No checking emails. No voicemails. No nothing.

While it was liberating to be completely in vacation mode, coming back to work was incredibly refreshing, too. Albeit exhausted from an amazing whirlwind trip (and educational, too! So much history in eastern Europe), returning to the office exuded a feeling of being completely refreshed. Feeling weird sitting at my desk chair having to adjust it, I realized this place can indeed function without me. And guess what? It did! Sure, I logged on sporadically at internet cafes to blog about my trip on my website or to check my Yankees status during playoff fever but the urge to check work emails was poof! Not even a vanishing thought.

After talking to my cultured friends from around the world where four weeks seemed insignificant, it made me wonder: why aren't personal day policies more generous here? Wouldn't it make sense for companies to promote using it from a psychological standpoint? I mean, I was pretty darn excited to get back to my fun commute (yes, I said fun -- I walk to work here in Manhattan!), to my own desk, to see my co-workers, and start cranking out work.

And for companies like mine who have generous policies, and for that I'm grateful, why don't more people utilize the days in bulk? As in, not a day here a day there, instead a full week or two in a nice healthy chunk. That's what I'm talkin' about. It doesn't have to be a big trip, even doing things around the house or being able to smell the roses and sit in a cupcake cafe and watch the world go by can be pretty relaxing, too.

So as Harley enjoyed his cereal and yogurt that morning I'm not sure he knew the relevance of his comment but I completely got it. Being on vacation where you're not thinking about work, you're surrounded by people from around the world who work to live (NOT live to work -- shock!!), there's something downright special and simple about that approach.

It was liberating. It was refreshing. And the funny thing is, now that I'm back I feel ready to tackle new projects. Bring it!