Summer is Great Time for Power Couples to Recharge and Reconnect
Power couples need to join the ranks of those who vacation in the
summer. Many continue the high intensity networking and business dealing
all year long and then wonder why they feel ready to drop from exhaustion.
You’re going in one direction. He or she’s going in another. You pass like
ships in the night and hardly know what’s going on with each other except
the bare essentials. You have a lot of vacation time for a reason — you
need to take a break.
Take Time Off
Summer is a good time to give yourself permission to take time off.
Many businesses slow down at this point in the year and understand that
people in other companies are on vacation too. Yes, there’s work piling up
on the desk. No, it’s not going to get done by itself. But, nobody is
indispensable and it can wait until you’ve had a chance to recharge your
batteries. Nonstop working eventually leads to waning productivity and
time spent doing things over instead of doing them right the first time.
This comes from mind fatigue and physical exhaustion that affects even the
best and most successful people on the go. You have a generous leave
package because the stress of your job requires a long break, so
coordinate your schedules and take some time off. One week will give your
body time to wind down. Two will allow time to rest and then to do
something you enjoy. If this is not possible, a long weekend is better
than nothing at all.
Do Nothing
Try to start out by doing nothing. Bum around, take it easy, and give
your mind and body a chance to bounce back from the hectic pace you keep
all year. This is hard when you have children, especially little ones, and
explains why sending the children to camp or to spend the summer with
relatives has always been so popular. Many power couples relocate to their
summer homes with good intentions of taking a break, but arrive so loaded
down with work that they might as well stay at the office. Even if you are
going to commute back and forth during the summer, officially designate
some of the time as bona fide "off duty" time. This means cut the cell
phone off, let the business e-mail go unchecked, and leave the briefcase
shut until the designated "vacation" time has elapsed.
Talk to Each Other
Since you will both be in the same place for more than a few minutes
for a change, take this opportunity to talk. There should be more to the
relationship than just giving instructions for the day or conducting
business about the bills, so have fun getting to know each other again. It
has sometimes been years since power couples spent time together doing
more than superficial entertaining or working the room at a networking
event. While they excel at this and may be well known around town for
their success, attractiveness and style as a couple, many can tell you
very little about their mate other because they rarely have time to enjoy
each other. Grabbing a few minutes here and there on the cell phone is not
the same as having time to lounge around and chat. Experience that great
sense of humor; re-awaken the romance. Take pleasure in sharing those
dreams that once brought you two together in the first place.
Review Plans
Use the time together to review those plans about where you’re headed
together. Often power couples are just sailing along without a clear sense
of where they’re headed individually or together. Being capable and
skilled people, they continue to encounter one success after the other,
but not always because of their own design or desire. People recommend
them for opportunities and situations are often fortuitous. There’s
nothing wrong with this, but take the time to review together how your
life has been proceeding and whether you both want to stay on the same
path.
Redo Plans
If there is some disagreement about where your lives are heading, redo
the game plan. There’s nothing sacred about leaving things "as is" if
either of you are unhappy about the course of your life and need to make
some changes. Sometimes this means giving up aspects of your current
routine that you enjoy. Sometimes it means moving or making other major
changes. One of the most difficult changes can be letting go of some of
the materialisms and perks that go along with doing well in American
society. Many power couples decide that they want it all and set the
course on full speed ahead. When you do this, it’s all the more important
to take time off to re-energize so that you’re ready for the hectic pace
that awaits you.
Summertime is a great time for busy couples to step back and take
advantage of the lull in business and social demands to reconnect with one
another. It can be exciting to be in a relationship with someone whose
life is equally busy and chaotic because you feel okay about doing your
own thing, but you are in a relationship for a reason. Take time to
regroup emotionally and physically, and to rejuvenate the relationship
too.
