I have always been someone that has enjoyed reciting movie lines. In the 1991 film, “What About Bob?” the main character, played by Bill Murray, is given a “prescription” by Dr. Leo Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss) that says, “Take a vacation from your problems.”
Reading that line out loud, Bob reacts in such a way that it was almost as if he was being given a new lease on life. The concept was unique, refreshing, and very much welcomed.
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And it turns out that there’s something to it.
A lot of people are struggling in more ways than one these days. There are people battling severe health challenges. Others are trying to find a way to make ends meet financially. I know someone (here in the States) who is distraught over what’s happening in Venezuela (the two earthquakes having hit there last week) since her parents and grandparents are there.
In the entertainment business, some performers are worried about being replaced by AI. Musicians fight the regular battle of finding meaningful gigs. The venue owners, meanwhile, are trying to find more revenue to afford to pay those guys and gals to get up on stage to provide live music to the patrons.
I have to admit that I am a workaholic. I’m really disappointed in myself that my mom came to stay with us for three weeks over February and March, yet I worked and worked and worked. People tell me that it’s not healthy and I almost can’t argue with them. Still, I continue pouring myself almost nonstop into my work.
Until a week ago.
My wife and I hit our ten-year wedding anniversary on the 18th and went “off the grid” for five days. We “cut the cord,” meaning, no laptops, no Wi-Fi, and essentially used our phones (on Airplane Mode) solely to tell time and to take pictures. I had not had any kind of vacation in three-and-a-half years. The getaway we returned from a week ago today would’ve made Dr. Leo Marvin proud.
Ironically, one night very soon after we got back, we were watching an episode of Season 3 of “White Lotus.” In that installment of the show, a family vacationing at that resort made the difficult decision to hand over their electronic devices so there would be no distractions. Once they did, one of them said, “What are we even supposed to do now?” It’s a clear indication that we’re all too attached to our phones, tablets, laptops, etc.
Let me stop here to acknowledge a few things.
First, the good news is that the world didn’t end. My business didn’t collapse. Heck, when I notified clients that I would be away, some of them sent well wishes!
The bad news is that yes, of course, everything was waiting for me when I got back. Meaning, taking time away doesn’t mean your problems won’t be waiting for you when you return. But your mind will be a lot clearer.
We all know how prevalent mental health awareness has become. Getting away will do wonders for your mental health. In fact, I now have a picture that I took that has become my “mentally I’m here” image.
I can’t pretend that the overwhelming majority of you are seeing a Dr. Leo Marvin, so don’t use that as an excuse. You can’t wait around for someone to hand you a written order to “take a vacation from your problems.”
The fact that the anniversary getaway sparked me to write this as the blog for this week clearly shows how impactful it was for me and thus can be for you.
And for those thinking, “This all sounds great, but I’m not in a financial position to afford an elaborate getaway,” note that nowhere did I use that word. Stay within your budget or you’ll create a new problem for yourself. After all, I said take a vacation. I didn’t say, ‘Take an exotic trip for a few weeks.’
I was so impacted that I’m already challenging myself to not wait three-and-a-half years for the next one. So, when will your trip be?
A Member of the Recording Academy, I have been helping indie music artists, authors, actors, entrepreneurs, podcasters, filmmakers, small business owners, and more for over twenty years. What challenges are you having in your creator career that I can lend some insight to? Connect with me so you can take advantage of all my experience, and I can help and keep you moving forward.