A few weeks ago before I was leaving on a business trip, my husband Ted said to me “don’t forget to stop and smell the roses.” My initial reaction was, “I will do that when I get all of my work done and have a chance to relax.”
In this wired world of 24/7, I sometimes feel the very tools that make our lives easier and more efficient, can also make it nearly impossible to disconnect as we are never more than a click away. I find myself wondering…Is there really a way to unplug? Trying to balance it all is still a challenge for me, and I realize that my work may never be done—there will always be something more to do. And so, I need to actually make time to enjoy life instead of postponing it until it fits into my schedule.
With the long holiday weekend ahead, I plan to disconnect from technology and reconnect with myself and those who mean the world to me. I look forward to smelling the roses…savoring the smells of the barbeque and enjoying the sounds of conversation and laughter with friends and family. I know that if I can actually disconnect for a few days, I will come back refreshed and re-energized.
As women, we constantly try to do it all. This weekend we’re celebrating Independence Day so let’s savor that independence for ourselves by taking a break. I hope you can unplug and join me in taking time to smell the roses.
Barbara
By blogger Barbara Adachi, Deloitte LLP
