I imagine that most of us wish we could have the endurance of the Energizer Bunny®. You know – the fuzzy little drumming rabbit on wheels that just keep going and going and going…

I occasionally fantasize about the endless things that I could accomplish if only I required four hours of sleep per night: the books I could read, the articles I could write, the ideas I could implement. And then I think, “Yeah, right.” Would extra waking hours really make me more productive, or would I end up wasting more time than using it? Of course, the smarter – and much more realistic – option is simply to make the most of the time that I already have because that only-four-hours-of-sleep-a-night scenario is never gonna happen.

One way to capitalize on your maximum energy output (that’s the engineer in me talking) is to recharge once in while. Energizer® may deny it, but even the Bunny’s got to have a pit-stop. Since I last published, I did just that. I enjoyed the first “real” vacation that I had had in almost four years, and it was glorious. No internet, no cell phone, no watch. Only blue skies, sandy beach, late mornings and cocktail umbrellas. Pure heaven. Many of us can’t even imagine what that’s like, but I assure you it’s worth finding out.

Perhaps I delayed that vacation so long because I was afraid. Afraid that, after a week of serenity and calm, I wouldn’t want to get back to work. Thankfully, I was wrong. Sure I’d prefer for the salty waves to be tickling my toes – who wouldn’t? But instead of making me break into hives, the sight of my laptop and cell phone gave me that feeling I used to get when I’d return to college after living at home for the summer: a little nostalgic for mom, dad and an empty calendar, but thrilled to be back in the game.

Summer is the perfect time to recharge. Even if you can’t afford the time or money to head toward the beach, then just put your head in the proverbial sand by taking a day off and doing nothing but what pleases you. Sleep, garden, read trashy magazines, watch five movies in a row, hang out with old friends, whatever. Give yourself permission to relax a little, and the payoff will be a more energized you. Viva vacation!

Laura McDonald, IIDA / ASID
Interior Designer / Founder
laura@plinthandchintz.com