In the years I have been working as a professor (and even a graduate student), I have always taken work with me wherever I go. It’s part of the job – I always have something going on whether it is grading, holding class via recorded lectures, or working on research projects with other colleagues.
I had the opportunity to go to Ireland for a conference (which went very well!) but I did something that I have not done before: I stayed a few extra days and made a trip of the event.
I know most of my colleagues and other PR professors have done this for conferences and trips, but this was really the first time I took to put work on the side and truly capture the atmosphere, culture, and experience of being in a new place. And it was the best decision I could have done while in Ireland.
Don’t get me wrong – I still had some things to do and deadlines to meet, but I did make sure I let everyone know I was in Ireland and it may take me a bit longer to get back to them.
There were some things I learned about doing this.
- Taking a break is absolutely necessary to gain fresh perspectives. I loved the fact I was able to fully embrace the culture and environment in Ireland without the worry of not doing this task by this hour. I got the work I needed to get done in a timely manner (work up a few hours early each morning to do this) so I could enjoy the day ahead.
- Be confident in sharing your story and experiences on new platforms. I did this of course using social media like I have done on previous trips, but I really utilized Snapchat to share my stories. What I found interesting is the feedback I got from my friends and even former students. They were very interested in seeing what I was doing at the conference and in Ireland.
- When you have a reputation for “working” on holiday, people still expect you to work. I found this particularly interesting. Even though I noted I was out of the country for a conference and trip – because of the fact I always worked during a holiday – I was expected to still work even though. It was not really surprising to me – but it was something that I felt was interesting to note.
- You have to set boundaries for your time and energy. This goes with the point above. You have to take time for yourself and there are things that do not need to be accomplished at a certain hour on a certain day. If you let everyone know where you are and when you will get back to them – they are perfectly okay with it!
Overall, I felt my trip to Ireland was one of the most memorable and educational experiences I have done. I was able to see a lot of the main attractions of course, but I also got a chance to learn about the culture and history of the country. Would I take a trip like this again? Absolutely.
Hope you all are having a great day!
Best Wishes,
