Stop Running Away: The Real Work Begins When the Vacation Ends

THow many times have you told yourself, "I just need a vacation"? It's a go-to line for many of us dealing with life's stress and challenges. I’ve heard it from my clients for years. But being completely honest—a vacation isn’t a magic fix, and we both know it, right?

While vacations are awesome for a short-term break –and maybe a sexy tan– they're not solving the underlying problems that made you run away in the first place. It’s easy to blame others when things don’t change after you come back. "I took time off, I relaxed, so it’s not my fault things are still bad." Well, I hate to break it to you but, even if the initial situation that was stressing you out was not necessarily your responsibility, the aftermath after avoiding it will be. It’s actually up to everyone involved to do the hard work of addressing the root causes before it becomes an unmanageable nightmare.

Instead of running away, let's face things head-on. It might mean awkward conversations, dealing with anger or frustration, maybe even some tears. But this is how we grow and find real solutions like real, very aware and responsible adults. Avoiding problems only leads to a never-ending cycle of stress and escape and that's exhausting.