Kate Jackson Hobbs, CFA’s Post

Welcome to MPP Weekly! Going on vacation can be fun, but travel itself can be very stressful - especially when kids are involved. Many more people travel during the holidays and between the crowds, weather, and holiday stressors, it can all become even more complicated and difficult. We recently flew with all four of our young kids for the first time. We’d flown a fair amount with our first kiddo and second too before the twins were born and COVID made the idea of flying with our family seem far more daunting. Over the past few years we have traveled a fair amount but we’d chosen to do longer road trips in the car instead. We found this gave us more flexibility and control over the chaos that is traveling with kids since we wouldn’t have to figure out car seats and rental cars, go through security, pack light, and be trapped in a small space with four little ones. Luckily my husband’s parents and sister were coming with us, it was a very short flight, and between two small airports we know very well - basically an ideal set up for our first attempt. The travel portion and the trip as a whole went much better than I anticipated. We were lucky that so many things worked out as well as they did so we didn’t have any big problems or challenges to deal with on the way. I do think that part of the reason it went well was because we were prepared and tried to be conscious ahead of time about how we wanted to use our time and stay balanced. Click on the picture or the button underneath to read more about how to use MPP concepts when traveling with your family. https://lnkd.in/gK_5juEG

Love and share or copy and paste to your pages. Sun of a Bethany Beach! It’s time to start planning your summer vacations! Make your reservations at our 2 bedrooms, 2 bath oceanfront condominium unit in Sea Colony East. The address is 406 Annapolis House. We've decided to offer Friday-to-Friday vacation packages during prime season! We hear that Friday-Friday rents like hot cakes. It's beneficial to some of our friends and potentially Shomer Shabbos guests. So, we are excited. However, if it doesn’t generate enough reservations, we will pivot. Friday-to-Friday: Enables you to make the first Friday of your vacation a full workday, partial workday or no workday and you can make this decision of when to drive up spontaneously. Check in is in the afternoon, however, you can arrive early and purchase your guest passes, enjoy the beach, take a walk on the boardwalk, or do some shopping before checking in. I know of people who rent from Saturday to Saturday and wish they had at least 1 full weekend to enjoy the beach without having to use the Saturdays as a check in, check out and travel days. I know of people who make reservations from Saturday to Saturday and, on the front end and their only option is to leave for the beach is Motzei Shabbos and arrive late Saturday night. So, they lose the opportunity to enjoy a peaceful Shabbos at the beach. And, on the back end, while check out is Saturday morning, they effectively need to pack their backs and checkout on Friday. They can still enjoy the beach, shop, go mini golfing, etc. and they must build in enough time to get home before Shabbos. And they are frustrated that they had to leave some money on the table because leaving on Saturday isn’t an option for them. We are intrigued about offering a Friday-to-Friday package so that after your vacation, you will have a full weekend to relax before getting ready to return to your regular weekday routine. Among the rules at Sea Colony and our place include no fireworks, no pets, and no smoking. If you aren’t a rule follower, then you shouldn’t vacation at Sea Colony. The amenities are amazing. So, whether you think it’s too cold, too hot or it’s raining you can enjoy everything the indoor activities available in Edgewater House and the Freeman Fitness Center in Sea Colony West. On a sensitive subject, Chabad of Ocean City, MD. has a mikvah. So no need to delay or cancel your vacation plans. It’s an easy drive from Bethany Beach to Ocean City, Fenwick Island, Dewey, Rehoboth, the outlets, etc. Your reservations are confirmed with a deposit and you can read, ask management about the policies on cancelations, deposits. After ‘loving’ the post and ‘sharing’ the post or copying and pasting the post and tagging me, hurry up and make your reservations before the spots fill up 😊. We look forward to having you as our guests. information deemed to be accurate but not guaranteed https://lnkd.in/e9yrnZk8

Summer is right around the corner, which makes me think vacations. I’m curious: as a lawyer, what type of vacationer are you? 1. Vacation? What’s a vacation? It’s impossible to take a vacation as a lawyer. The insane hours you must put in to be out of the office for a week and then come back to a mountain that has piled up while you were gone is not worth the time out of the office. 2.  Vacation… sounds good in theory…. There you are at the airport check-in counter suitcases unzipped, redistributing the weight because you packed up client files, your laptop, and maybe a law book to go with you. You don’t want to feel guilty for missing vacation with your family and you don’t want to feel guilty for not working (or maybe you have a deadline to meet during that week). Solution – move your office with you and work most of the time. 3.  Vacation! Yes, but ….  You still keep a pulse on what’s going on, checking email throughout the day and mentally staying connected to work. You will drop what you are doing and prioritize responding to an important email during family lunch or take an afternoon to knock out some work. At least you have a beach view! 4. Vacation… argh… your spouse has gotten on your case about working on vacation so this time you promise not to work on vacation. But it is stressful doing this for the first time and you are irritable and tense, worried about work. Maybe you sneak and check email once in a while to get a fix or alleviate your anxiety. You “vacationed” but it wasn’t enjoyable. For anyone. You did see, however, that the world doesn’t end if you take time away from work. 5. You fully embrace vacation. You take that 10-day family cruise through the Greek isles fully disconnected. You leave that laptop at home so it couldn't taunt or tempt you. You put your OOO notice on and are committed to being on vacation. Work will be there when you return. You enjoyed your vacation, so did your family, and you return to work energized to get back to it. (Client success story.) 😎 Summer is coming up. Are you taking the types of vacations you want to? If not, know that you have the power to make changes to make it happen! And yes, you CAN take fully disconnected vacations a lawyer. 📷: It’s been a while since we did a beach vacation. This last beach trip was very cold and windy, the water was freezing, and we couldn’t get in it due to a jellyfish infestation. We did, however, enjoy riding horses on the beach, collecting shells, and making bonfires on the beach at night.

STAYCATIONS VS TRADITIONAL VACATIONS   Here are 3 benefits of choosing a staycation for your next break: 1. It's More Affordable Vacations can be a major source of debt but it doesn’t have to be this way. A staycation can be much more affordable since travel expenses are minimal. There’s no hefty airfare to fork out for and you can be creative with where you stay. Sure, you can book a luxury hotel or high-end rental but it’s not necessary. If you don’t have a big budget, you don’t need to splash out. 2. It’s Low Maintenance One of the big downsides of a traditional vacation is the amount of planning and stress that can go into it. Sometimes, it can feel like you need another vacation to get over the vacation! A staycation can be a totally different proposition. It can be as simple or action-packed as you make it. It’s totally up to you. On some expensive vacations, you feel obligated to do a ton of activities because you want to get your money’s worth. There’s none of that with a staycation. If you want to keep things low-maintenance, you don’t have to pack your schedule. If all you want to do is chill out and go with the flow, that’s perfectly okay. You set the rules. 3. Your Vacation Starts and Ends on Your Terms You’re not rushing to the airport to catch a flight or getting ready for an extended road trip. And that means no time wasted in airports or waiting for a taxi or rental car. When it’s time to go home, you’re not working around flight schedules and planning for check-in time at the airport. And best of all, no jet lag! You have control over when your staycation starts and ends. Staycations are as flexible as you need them to be. If you can’t swing a two-week vacation, you can easily fit a staycation into a few days that work for you. Adding just one vacation day to the start or end of a long weekend can make for a perfect way to create an on-demand staycation that fits your schedule. Plus, it’ll really maximize your long weekend staycation and give you guys the much-needed break from work life. See more >> https://bit.ly/3j3aU7P #mimosacourtapartments #servicedapartments #furnishedapartments #servicedapartmentsnairobi #aparthotel #accommodation #businesstravel #corporatestay

Don’t over-work on family vacations. I know this is easier said than done for consultants, business owners, and people in leadership roles. Speaking from my own experience and situation, I know that every minute I don’t work is a minute I can’t spend serving clients, finding new business, and making money for my family. It’s a choice. When my kids were younger, I could get away with putting in more hours during vacations. But my kids are 9 and 7 now. They are much more aware of how I spend my time, and how much undivided attention I am able to give to them. “Dad, are you done working for the day now?” They understand why I’m working. But they still would prefer seeing me on adventures with them than staying back at the hotel to work. I’ve come back from vacations before feeling regret about how much I worked. I still put in hours on our spring break trip, but I tried to pull myself away from my computer more often. Some clients understand. Others still expect 100%. That’s just how it goes when you run your own business. It’s a balancing act. I’m not perfect at it, but I’ve gotten better at managing expectations, working ahead, squeezing projects in that can’t be delayed. These years fly by too quickly. I don’t want to look back and wish I had spent more time sharing experiences and precious moments with my family. I hope this helps others struggling with the balancing act and wondering how to be present for everyone this time of year. Take advantage of moments when you can be fully unplugged and tuned into your kids. Be there as they see parts of the world for the first time. Run with them. Explore with them. Be an example for them. Make the sacrifice. Work can wait…at least for a while. Have a great weekend!

New Post: Determining the Optimal Number of Family Vacations per Year - https://lnkd.in/gpE7Sipa the Optimal Number of Family Vacations per Year Deciding how many family vacations to take each year can vary greatly from one family to another, influenced by factors such as work commitments, school schedules, budget, and personal preferences. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, understanding the benefits of regular getaways and assessing your family’s needs can help you determine the ideal number of vacations to aim for annually. 1. Benefits of Regular Vacations Taking time away from the usual routines has several benefits: Stress Reduction: Vacations help relieve stress by removing individuals and their families from the environments and activities that contribute to their daily stress levels. Improved Relationships: Spending uninterrupted time together strengthens familial bonds and enhances communication. Increased Productivity: Breaking up the monotony with vacations can lead to greater productivity and creativity once back in the daily grind. Educational Experiences: Travel exposes family members, especially children, to new cultures, environments, and experiences that can be profoundly educational. 2. Factors to Consider Work and School Schedules: Check how much time off is available to you and your children. This often dictates how many trips are feasible. Budget: Financial constraints are significant. Consider all vacation costs, including travel, accommodation, food, and activities, to decide how many vacations your budget can comfortably support. Desired Vacation Quality and Length: Would you prefer several weekend getaways or a few longer vacations? Some families prefer multiple short breaks as a way to regularly decompress, while others find longer vacations more restorative. Travel Goals and Preferences: If you have a travel bucket list or prefer more elaborate vacations, fewer, more detailed trips might be more satisfying. 3. A Recommended Approach For many families, a practical approach includes: One Long Vacation: Plan a one to two-week vacation during the summer or whenever aligns best with everyone’s schedules. Use this time for a significant getaway that might require more travel and planning. Several Shorter Breaks: In addition to one long vacation, consider two to three weekend getaways or short trips during public holidays or school breaks. These are great for visiting nearby attractions or exploring new cities. 4. Stay Flexible Life’s unpredictability means flexibility is crucial. Be open to changing plans as needed due to work demands, health issues, or other personal matters. Also, consider staycations or day trips as alternatives that require less commitment and planning. 5. The right number of family vacations varies, but the goal should always be to balance rest and recreation wit

Planning family vacations can be consuming. Trying to plan family vacations with teens can be even trickier, with schedules and personal opinions. Either you love travel planning or you dread it.  Click to read more

Planning family vacations can be consuming. Trying to plan family vacations with teens can be even trickier, with schedules and personal opinions. Either you love travel planning or you dread it.  Click to read more

What Can You Look For In a Vacation? We all need vacations to some extent. It may be a necessity or a luxury to you. But have you ever stopped to think why you want to travel to other parts of the world? It’s a question worth pondering, as your motivations could be more complex than you realise. You can look for many things on a vacation. Some of the following are my perspectives: 1. A break from your work You may be doing a very dull and repetitive job. Travelling will break that routine for a while. You should examine your joy and happiness on vacation to see if you should change your current work. You may be working an overly demanding job, have extremely long hours, and find it difficult to rest your mind after work because you still have work to do after your working hours. Vacation may be a good time to see your life objectively and decide if you should return to the same job in the coming months. Of course, if you have a good, reasonable job that has meaning for you, the vacation is a time to recharge your batteries, and you will return to work with renewed enthusiasm. 2. To develop independence and problem-solving Those who go on vacation with guided tours from the beginning to the end would miss something I shared here. Imagine that you would have to book your flights, find your way around with public transport or trains and plan your itinerary for the trip. It sounds like a lot of work, but the advantage is that you can choose your destination, stay longer at a particular place if you wish, or return to the same spot later for whatever reason. Problem-solving helps you find independence in a foreign country, where you rely on only Google Maps and the information on the Internet. 3. To be more creative in your thoughts Doing things differently on certain days will allow you to be creative. Vacation is one good opportunity to learn creativity. Creativity starts with packing your bags and finding places to visit. When you go on vacations, you can indulge in creative pursuits like writing a journal, sketching a drawing, photographing people in different activities, and doing other activities that bring joy. It allows you to practice mindfulness and live in the present moment while you are away from home and familiar routines. You learn to observe your thoughts and surroundings without judgment. As people travel often, they begin to be more creative in their thoughts because they have experienced different cultures and know that people do things differently in various cultures. There is no definite way to do any task; you are just used to familiar ways of doing things. In summary Vacations are good opportunities to relax, visit new places, and meet new friends. They are more than a travel itinerary; they can give you room for reflections and thoughts that can help you grow and face challenges in your daily lives.