Perspective

The Quest For Mental Rejuvenation

by Doneene Keemer Damon, Esquire

Work hard….plan well. Every thing is falling in line for that spring break vacation.

Your child grows more excited as the days go by —

"Are we leaving today? What about tomorrow? How long will it take to get there? Why can't we go NOW? Don't forget my swim trunks…oh, and please don't forget my toys I need to have my toys. Can I buy new toys when I get there?"

Then, there's your spouse —
"Honeywhat shorts should I take? Do you think I need more than one pair of shoes? Do you have the itinerary? Did you call for the car or should I?"

And finally…the office. Your associate mentees are working feverishly, wondering how crazy things will be when you disappear on your so-called vacation. As you attempt to finalize your ever-important vacation memo, four new matters come in. Are you surprised?

You finally leave the office and rush home to pack. "Do I have my son's things? What about my husband? What am I taking? Oh, who cares what I take so long as I have my cell phone (I must be reachable at all times).

You finally get to the airport — 3 hours early due to security changes. Check in goes rather smoothly and in 25 minutes you are sitting at the gate. Now what do you do with 2 excited kids (your son and your husband)?

You arrive at your destination…one week split between Disney World and Universal. Constant walking, jolting rides and junk food galore. You return home exhausted…ready for a hospital bed and an I.V. tube. Oh well, just another vacation, right?

We all experience the anxiety of trying to get out of the office for vacation. Between the stress of work and the excitement at home, we often ask ourselves whether it's worth the trouble. Why go on vacation if it causes this kind of confusion?

A vacation is a time to get away from the day-to-day grind and do something different. Whether it's a quiet relaxing trip to a sun-drenched beach or the chaos of a world-renowned amusement park, it's not our daily routine. It gives the mind a chance to relax. It gives us an opportunity to forget about deadlines and phone calls.

We have all heard how the number of billable hours in our profession has reached staggering heights. A 15-18 hour day has become the norm rather than the exception. It is impossible for us to operate under these demands without a break. At some point, the body, the mind or both will shut down.

We all know people who have been working for years without taking a vacation. Perhaps it's because we are driven that way, or perhaps it's because we have a small office without a great deal of support. Whatever the reason, we should all find some time to occasionally walk away.… be it a week or a long weekend.

Did you ever wonder why lawyers are some of the unhealthiest people around? Well, when you combine long hours, poor eating habits, lack of exercise and stress, and years of this routine, you can see why.

In order to remain proficient, efficient and effective attorneys, we must, on occasion, take a respite from our profession. We must learn to clear our minds for a short period. Our clients deserve lawyers who have not reached the point of burnout. Our families certainly deserve time when we are focused on them completely, rather than trying to fit them into out hectic schedules. In addition, we owe it to ourselves to occasionally relax so that we can re-group and re-fresh ourselves in order to continue practicing for years to come.

So while it may seem like it's more trouble than it's worth to get out of the office for a few days, let's remind ourselves why a vacation is so important in our profession…our bodies may return home somewhat weary from our activity-filled vacation, but our minds have had a much needed opportunity to relax and relieve itself of business as usual.

Return to April 2002 Table of Contents.