I recently took a vacation.
Not a relocation to work as usual from a different place, or a conference with learning and networking responsibilities, but a break from the usual routines of work and home life. I didn’t cook or clean for an entire week. I visited my siblings who have known me for decades and are not impressed by any of my accomplishments. This was a great opportunity to truly separate from work responsibilities. I recommend it.
Like so many words that joined the language in the Middle English period, vacation comes from Anglo-French, the particular kind of French spoken in medieval England, and ultimately from Latin: vacātiōn-, vacātiō means "exemption from service, respite from work," and traces back to vacāre, "to be empty, be free, have leisure."
Vacation simmered along in English from the 14th century to the present, developing semantically as one might expect. It took on now-obsolete meanings of "freedom from work or cares" and "time for contemplation," and still-current meanings to do with periods of exemption or suspension from work or activity, and with intermissions in judicial and educational contexts. In the late 19th century, it developed its now most common meaning of "a period spent away from home or business in travel or recreation"—what the British call a "holiday"—and it also got verbed, so that we could talk about "vacationing at the shore."
If you need to be convinced to schedule your next vacation, here is an article that describes just seven health benefits of taking a vacation.
When you are back, refreshed and ready to take on the next challenge in your organization, don't hesitate to contact us to assist with strategic planning, leadership development or other mangement needs.
