Sometimes the office just takes its toll on us. And while your official vacation might not start for a week, month or year, here are a few mini-vacations you can take at the office, on any day when you just need to get away from it all and your real vacation is nowhere in sight.
- Take a trip to the bathroom. Yep, sometimes you just need to escape your desk, your phone, your co-workers or the boss. Alas, there is the bathroom. While 1/3 the size of the typical office cubicle (heck you felt the walls are closing in on you anyway); it is a place just to go think, relax, reflect and just get away from it all. Unless of course you work with that one crazy who thinks it is okay to follow you there – and talk to you. Now if we can just get bathroom stalls made of white boards.
- The trip back to your desk from the meeting. Yep, you just sat in a two hour meeting where nothing was done, no one said much of anything, nothing was accomplished, fingers were pointed, backs were stabbed, and you all agreed to get together next week to do it again. On the trip back to your desk you shake your head at the stupidity, laugh at the pointlessness, and celebrate that you get paid to be ineffective and kept from the real task at hand. Now of course this walk should be the long way, perhaps using the stairs or walking out of the building. You will need this time to decompress. Next time perhaps bring along a Meeting PLAYce Mat for everyone. Of course you can also invite someone else along and hold that meeting after the meeting to say the things that should have been said during the meeting.
- Take a trip to the cafeteria. Another place to get away from it all. Grab a cup of coffee or a refreshing cold beverage and snack. Bring a pad and pen or your laptop. Go off in the corner and let people think you’re working on the next new initiative; the 2013 operating plan, or solving a complex customer issue. Make sure your back is to everyone or you have one of those serious looks on your face.
- The car is always good for getting energized. You were smart. You parked as far away from the bulding as possible. You parked at the top of the ramp garage. So take that quick power nap. Crank up your favorite tunes. Your co-workers will just think yoo’re in another meeting. 15 minutes of sleep or high energy music will be just the thing you’ll need to get you to 9:00 PM. Yep. you have to work late again.
Well that’s it. Enjoy your mini vacation. It’s only 258 hours/days to the real one.