It’s the middle of July, and so far I’ve “only” read three books and chilled on a six-week-long vacation in my “second home” of Taipei, Taiwan. If you follow me on Twitter or we’re friends on Facebook, you know this last part…and I actually read one of the books while on vacation.

Truth be told, I feel really guilty. I know that my Curry College students are working at least one job. Some are also shoehorning in an internship as part of their Public Relations Concentration. And they’re (theoretically, at least) getting some badly-needed rest and relaxation.I feel like I’m just sitting here twiddling my thumbs.

One of the things I truly enjoy about both my former life as a public relations professional and my current incarnation as a public relations professor sharing my knowledge and experience with future generation(s) of PR pros is the rush I get when I’m actively engaged in my work.

And when there’s a lull in the action, I get antsy. And when I get antsy, I start looking for ways to release that pent-up energy. Which means that I start dreaming up projects to undertake, events to stage…you name it.

My former colleagues at the Blood Bank of Hawaii, Ruth and Kim, figured this out early on. Whenever either passed by my office and saw me kind of just “sitting there,” one or the other would shortly afterwards come wandering in with a “Kirk, could you take a look at…”

Voila! I had something to do and everyone was safe…for the moment!

So what’s this all about?

I’m realizing as time passes that, at least once in a while, you have to sit back, take a deep breath, and let the creative juices rejuvenate. Then, when you head back into your workplace, your head is clear, your brain is firing on all cylinders, and ideas are bouncing about waiting to be released and made reality.

The lesson here, Young Grasshopper, is that you don’t have to be “on” 24/7. It’s okay to take a break. It’s okay to take some “you” time.

Work hard, but take some downtime. Don’t get caught up in a “summer daze”!