Loose Change: Why Dreams Die after Vacation

Have you ever basked on a golden beach, your toes buried in the warm sand and your mind wandering to new horizons? Maybe in a place where saying "sorry" isn't a reflex? And suddenly, you're covertly checking out local real estate prices and potential jobs, seriously considering putting those French or Spanish lessons to real use, and fantasizing about a full-fledged relocation. It’s as if the break from routine opens up a window to a world of possibility, something fresh, exciting and unexplored. We’ve all been there.
 
Yet, once the vacation ends and the tan begins to fade, so do those enticing dreams. But why? Let's explore the reasons and what we can do to capture the essence of those fleeting ambitions.

The "I'm back to my 9-5" Syndrome

​It's hard to keep that tropical dream alive when returning to an overflowing inbox can quickly bury that vacation-inspired zest. Suddenly, those audacious goals seem smothered under a pile of pending tasks. Everyone else who didn't get a vacation is still marching to the same drum. How can we blame ourselves for going back to our routines? The inertia of life around us seems to swallow those dreams and desires that seemed so clear just days before. Our minds quickly fill with work commitments, deadlines, and obligations in this familiar environment. Without a safe space for these thoughts, they will suffocate and die. You have to give them the respect you do with the rest of your tasks.

Actionable Insight: Create a roadmap for change. Start small, build momentum, and take calculated risks to explore the new path you're interested in.
 
Leaders: Develop clear strategies within your organization to foster innovation and creativity. Empower team members to explore their dreams and align them with organizational goals.

​The "Same-old Same-old" Dilemma

​While you may come back renued, revved up and inspired, your regular routines block your path – stubbornly in the way.
 
You’re dealing with the same demands on your time… the same bills, maybe kids' or parents’ schedules, the pending projects, the same old responsibilities and routines - they all seem to conspire against your new vision. 
 
It’s time to put your life on project status. Make it an area of interest.

Actionable Insight: Assess the true essence of your new goals. Understand how they align or conflict with existing commitments, and strategize a balanced approach. Be polite, but firmly ask those geese to move.
 
Leaders: Encourage open communication about individual goals and work-life balance within your team. Create a supportive environment that recognizes personal aspirations.

​The "Foggy Peak" Phenomenon

​That moment when you were looking at the stars and felt an overwhelming sense of purpose? It was real, but now it feels like a distant echo. Without a clear plan, those emotions fade into the background noise of daily life. That dream felt so right on vacation but now seems as unclear mountains in a foggy morning. What was a clear goal a week ago moves far away, and becomes nebulous.
 
But you can recapture them. You can translate that nebulous dream into something tangible, something that fits into your life’s puzzle. You can make it real.

Actionable Insight: Climb through the clouds! Break down your dream into achievable actionable steps. Create a timeline. Make it tangible.
 
Leaders: Foster a culture of clear goal-setting and accountability within your organization. Guide your team into translating their dreams into actionable steps.

​The "Just A Dream" issue

Remember that genius idea on vacation? Back home, it feels silly, out of touch with reality, and out of reach. We discount the idea as a flight of fancy - but maybe that quirky, unconventional idea, that spark of creativity, is just the innovative leap you've been waiting for within your organization. It deserves to be nurtured, not discarded.  It takes courage to follow through, but I’ve seen the results – and they’re worth it!

Actionable Insight: Don't underestimate your vacation-self. Treat these "whims" as insights into what truly resonates with you. Explore them further, evaluate their feasibility, and seek expert advice if needed. Beavers are pretty smart; maybe you're onto something.
 
Leaders: Create platforms for brainstorming and exploration of new ideas within the organization. Don't dismiss unconventional ideas; they might be the next big innovation.

​Carry a Compass

​Venturing into uncharted territory? But guess what? There are seasoned navigators out there, people who've walked this path before and helped others find theirs. Seek them out. Find mentors, read books, attend seminars. Their views on what's possible can open doors you never knew existed. There's a guide who's been on similiar trails, who's been there, done that. If you've never been there before, lean on others' experience and expertise!

Actionable Insight: Reach out to mentors or experts who resonate with your goals. Absorb their wisdom, ask questions, and actively engage with their knowledge. Make connections, share goals, and learn.
 
Leaders: Encourage continuous learning within your organization. Promote mentorship and provide resources to help team members grow.

Commitments Belong on the Calendar

​Finding time for change might feel like solving a complex puzzle. But it's time to take stock. What are your non-negotiable commitments, and what can be adjusted, or abandoned? You already have simple tools you can use to help you find room to maneuver. Juggling responsibilities is tough, but if it is real and important we give it space on our calendar.

To chase dreams,  use this same logic in reverse. Put it on the calendar and it becomes real.  It's an investment of time that will make dreams real.

Relationships, Homes, Businesses, Passions... it's the time we spend on something that makes it real. 
                                                                                                                                     ​- Tim Sweet.

Actionable Insight: Evaluate your commitments and prioritize them. Strategize your moves. What can you pass on to make space for what what deserves a goal attempt?
 
Leaders: Support team members in achieving work-life balance. Encourage prioritization and help identify unnecessary commitments.

​Get others looking up.

​Your dreams may seem like solitary musings, but sharing them might bring unexpected treasures. Talk with family, friends, and co-workers about your dreams. Share your visions, like the excitement of showing someone the Northern Lights for the first time. Getting others excited will help you stay inspired, and illuminate your path and make your dreams a reality.

Keep in mind - your dreams may scare them, and they may try to protect you from what lies outside the box. Take time to process these fears and understand them - but don't blindly buy into them.  You'll be stronger for it.

Actionable Insight: Open up to the wisdom of your network and keep the conversation glowing. If your network has no answers – it’s time to upgrade.
 
Leaders: Foster open communication within your organization. Create a safe space for team members to share their ideas and passions.

​Finding True North

​Creating harmony is about ensuring everything is oriented in the same direction.  Each aspect of our life, from job to family to new venture are pointed at the same goals, and support the same values. It takes effort, but it's a game-changer.

Once you get a sense of the harmony needed to make sweet music, strings out of tune get more noticable. Don't become deaf to sourness, consider how you might tune your existing responsibilities to harmonize with your new desires. 

Actionable Insight: Create balance in your life by aligning new desires with existing responsibilities. Don't lose sight of what resonates with you. Keep your dreams and responsibilities in tune. Don't drop the puck!
 
Leaders: Encourage a harmonious work environment. Support individual passions while maintaining alignment with organizational goals.  Break down complex conflicts into parts so we can see what's in-tune or sour.

​Beyond Fantasy: The Deep Dive into Meaning

​Don't waste the urges that emerge when you're relaxed. While selling the farm for an island escape might be impossible - or is it a symbol of something deeper? Vacation epiphanies might be a call to action for something more profound. 
 
You deserve to dive into what these fantasies mean. Perhaps it's the need for a change in career, relationships, or lifestyle? Get chunky and explore beyond the surface and discover the essence of your desires. Dive deeper, and you might find it's less about the location and more about the flavour of life you crave.
 
Your time on this planet is limited, so don't waste it living the wrong life.

Actionable Insight: Reflect on what's behind your dreams. Is there a deeper need or desire that's calling for your attention? Get to the root of your aspirations. 
 
Leaders: Encourage self-reflection and exploration within your team. Recognize individual needs and align them with the organization's vision.

​Feeling hot hot hot - Keep the vibe.

​You don't have to move to the other side of the world to satisfy your needs. Small changes can make a significant difference in your life. Sometimes, we can resolve to keep elements that worked for us on vacation, these can bring a fresh breeze of change into your daily routine, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. 
 
You don’t need a complete overhaul - changing the vibe can make a big difference.

Actionable Insight: Identify small but meaningful changes you can make to improve your daily life. Embrace them and observe their impact. So, start with bite-sized tweaks and notice the difference they make.
 
Leaders: Promote a culture of continuous improvement within your organization. Encourage small changes that align with larger goals.

​​In closing, take time to harness the power of dreams and those vacation "aha" moments. They’re more than just passing thoughts over a different sunset; they're potential life-changers. And remember, a vacation might be temporary, but the spark it ignites doesn’t have to be.
 
So, before you've washed the last of the sand out of your ears, and before the memory of that still morning when all was right in the world fades, make a real effort to put transformation in motion and commit to your dreams. 
 
I hope you enjoyed this article, but it is no substitute for the real conversation, challenge, and commitment. So, if you ever decide to make that move, look me up.