Last year I wrote about how I wanted to have a summer where I was in control of my time. Where I was able to mix holiday with working on byflock and my consulting business. As of today I’m doing just that.
When I was a kid, the end of term and the beginning of summer holiday, or ‘sommarlov’ as we call it, was very special. All of the kids in class 1-6 (that is age 7-13) would gather out on the grass for ‘Sommaravslutning’. Parents would come, the head teacher would say a few words and we would sing the typical ‘sommaravslutnings’ songs like ‘Idas sommarvisa (from Emil i Lönneberga) and ‘Den blomstertid nu kommer. It was early June and over two months of nonstop summer break ahead of us. The feeling as we left the sommaravslutning was amazing. Long days and nights of being outdoors, playing dunkgömme and other games with the next door kids, climbing trees, doing day trips, going for swims and to friend’s summerhouses awaited. I loved that feeling and right now I have the same one.
I haven’t decided how long I’m going to be off, or exactly in what format I’m going back to work. But I know what I am doing with my time off and I’m so excited about it. Like Brad Feld who recently wrote about taking a break from travelling and all the time it frees up for amongst other things going for more runs, I’m really looking forward to the same. No everyday commute. No more trying to squeeze in a morning run and then rush to the tube and stand squashed together with all the other commuters who all wish they were anywhere but in tube carriage that is way too hot.
I’m looking forward to spending my days in the way that I know make me my most productive, creative, healthy and happy. To control where I work and what I work on and to have non-stop time for byflock that’s been ticking along on the side but is in dire need of my undivided attention. And I’m looking forward to being able to have those coffees I’ve talked to people about for ages but have struggled to get in because I’ve been contracting full time. I’m looking forward to being able to enjoy the summer and making it my ideal one.
Image source: www.flickr.com/photos/evassvammel/7421689696
