Author: admin

It’s so tempting to keep working and to think of a holiday in terms of two weeks away, or a long weekend. However, we can think small and then think a bit smaller.

We can think our way down to a tiny time space and enter the realm of the micro holiday.

The micro holiday comes in three basic sizes and you’re welcome to design your own and have fun exploring how far you can push the boundaries.

The classic micro holidays for the busy, stressed worker are:

1) 15 Minutes of Mindfulness. Stop working and sit comfortably, set your phone alarm to nudge you after quarter of an hour and then close your eyes. Focus on what you can hear and then let your mind drift and escape your world. Enjoy.

2) 60 Minutes of Creativity. Take a full lunch hour and instead of munching a cheese sandwich at your desk, find a new space to be in and take with you a pencil and paper. Creativity gives us a good break from the turmoil of our work and we can sketch, doodle, shade shapes or create geometric patterns for fun.

3) 120 Minutes of Exploration. With a super long lunch break, or a later start, or an early finish we have time to go and do something. Perhaps we can take a walk in the woods, stroll along the beach, visit a museum, indulge in a treasured leisure activity, or go for a drive and explore somewhere new.

I’ve certainly had fun with micro holidays and have spent a happy morning soaking up the sun on the beach, or relaxing with a good book. I’ve also taken time to explore the Roman town of Caistor St Edmund, which was the forerunner to the fine city of Norwich. How lovely it was to walk around the town, explore the ruined walls and imagine the landscape as it would have looked in AD60.

This week we can all find time for a micro holiday and can have fun away from the busyness of work.

Where will you go?

Next week: Leveraging Twitter for Business

The inspiration for this post appeared when I was chatting to a colleague about how my career seems to have fallen into two halves. The first half was me working in factories, as a planner, organising production and having their job made redundant several times, because they were an easy target in times of change or austerity. I also have to account for the fact that as a driver of change myself I used to drive my bosses mad with ideas on how they could improve their business. More than once I was right and managed to say so, loudly enough to be an extreme irritant to those in charge, so perhaps I made myself an easy target…

…And I’m so glad I kept losing my job (five times at the last count, a number I’m quite proud of) because without a push I may not have ended up where I am today. Currently I’m 11 years into working for myself and haven’t been tempted to sack myself once. I love me! I’m a great boss and a super employee!!

My former experiences have all added up into useful material for books, lecturing stories and coaching perspectives – nothing is wasted and all experience has value! You perhaps needs the benefit of hindsight to see it.

So, to my younger self I say this:

‘Richard, you were not silly, stupid or lazy. Your ideas were good ones and at the time you lacked the skills to deliver them coherently and safely. It turns out you were in the right environment and in the wrong job. As a business coach you will be hired for the very thoughtfulness and creativity that you were criticised for in your PAYE roles. So stick with it kid, you’re Ok and it turns out well for you in the end! You’re great!!!’

It’s healthy to account for our journey and that at all times we are Ok – we have skills, we can think and make changes …and above all, we have a right to be here. Instead of thinking the first half of my career was a write-off, I now see it as an essential training ground for the me I am today. And I would not swap that me for anything!

What would you like to say to your younger self?

How can you account for the goodness you have and the talented person that you are now and always were?

Go for it!

Next week: Take A Micro-Holiday