How Vacation Changed My Attitude Towards Work

By Serina DeSalvio

I’m in my fifth year of my Ph. D. program at A&M, and this fall semester has been the first time I’ve ever taken a vacation.

And I’m not talking about visiting family for the holidays, or trips to conferences, or anything else mandatory- I took two trips this fall that were selfish. They served no purpose other than to enjoy the people around me in a new place for a couple of days.

And until I went, and came back- I had no idea how much I needed them!

The first was my honeymoon trip- we got married in April, but since we both work in agriculture and the field season started as soon as the wedding was over, we didn’t get to travel for our honeymoon until October. We were lucky enough to go to Aruba- it was such a treat! We got to snorkel, see lots of cool flora and fauna (which is always a highlight for a couple of biologists!), go to a national park, and do lots of swimming! Oh, and the food- phenomenal.

This first trip was a full week, and was the first time since I started graduate school that I got to actually forget about work for a while. I realized how much of my stress I carry with me- even when I slept on our trip, I felt myself sleep deeper and more soundly because I wasn’t as constantly worried about work as I am when we are here!

It also helped me remember things that I enjoy doing that I don’t always get time to in graduate school- like, I love being outside. I can’t believe I forgot how much I like being outside! I also rediscovered my love for reading, both fiction and non-fiction, and since this trip I’ve finished two books- which doesn’t sound like a lot, but for someone who reads papers as a part of their job, I think is quite the accomplishment!

As a whole- this trip reminded me how important it is to try to take a step back from work. I like to think I’m good at disassociating from my job when I’m home, but this trip showed me how much better I could be at it.

The second trip was a girl’s trip to Boston with two of my friends from high school. We had an amazing time exploring Salem, going to art museums, and catching up over good food and coffee. I think my enjoyment during this second trip was made easier by the first, since I had an easier time separating myself from work, even though this trip was much shorter- just a long weekend.

This second trip reminded me how much I love the people who know me well. It’s one thing to see people you are acquainted with, through work or school or organizations, but it’s another entirely to see people who really understand you and have known you for a long time.

Since then, I’ve been prioritizing not only talking with those two friends on the phone, but also catching up with my other long-distance, close-to-my-heart friends, as well as my two sisters. It made it even clearer than before that having a strong support system, no matter what you’re doing or where you are, can make all the difference in your mental health.

Finally, all this travelling effected the way I approach work. I felt so refreshed after each trip, which allowed me to come back to work more patient, and with some new ideas! I felt that I could see my work with a new perspective that was fresh and exciting, especially after having talked to my friends about what I do and seeing them get excited with me! So if you’re thinking about taking a vacation- a selfish trip, just for you- I say do it!!