Respite appears differently for different folks. For me, it is rarely about lounging around; instead, it is most often about seeing beautiful places with valued members of my squad who push me outside my comfort zone.

During my recent vacation, Wyoming, you did NOT disappoint! Amidst the breathtaking views, my friend Heather and I learned new skills and witnessed 6 bears, 5 bald eagles, 3 pronghorns, 2 moose, 2 swans, a gang of elk, a herd of bison, some cows and lots of beautiful horses, but there’s no need to worry… None of the bears were grizzlies, and we didn’t pet any of the animals except the horses.

Thank you to Erin Cohen of Personal Touch Travel Design for helping us narrow down all the lodging options as well as to David Patterson of Teton Lodge for your patience and attention to detail in pulling together such an ideal mix of experiences:

🐻 Wildlife Safari and Grand Teton Park Tour by Jackson Hole Safaris

🛏️ Salt Stone Massage by Spa Terre

🤠 Chuckwagon dinner and show by BAR T-5 Covered Wagon Cookout & Show

🦅 Breakfast with eagles wooden boat tour by Jackson Hole Vintage Adventures

🐴 Horseback riding led by Ben Tibbitts at Snake River Ranch (one of my favorite rides ever!)

🧇 Jackson Hole aerial tram up to Corbet’s Cabin for “the world’s best waffles” at 10,000 feet up

🐂 Final rodeo of the season at Jackson Hole Rodeo

🎣 Fly-fishing lesson by Mangi’s Fishing Guides

🥾 Hiking in Bridger-Teton National Forest led by biologist Benj Sinclair of Hole Hiking Experience

🥩 Delicious steak from The Mangy Moose restaurant

🥞 Truly amazing Red Velvet Pancakes from Spur Restaurant & Bar

I’m beyond grateful for my dear friend Heather Hooper saying “let’s go” to my request for respite in Jackson Hole, Wyoming! Like me, Heather is a fan of vacations that include a mix of adventure and relaxation, heading from spa to hike and everything in between, particularly including great food. Plus, thank you to Heather for so many of these great photos and videos… She’s a much better photographer than I can ever dream of being!

How do you experience respite? In my work with clients as well as my own life, I embrace values-based productivity, meaning productivity is about efficiently working to effectively achieve results desired for all elements of life. When we look at the elements of life being home, work, community and self-care, including mind, body and spirit, taking time to pour back into ourselves is absolutely an essential part of productivity, and we find success by implementing work-life integration, where each of those elements complements rather than competes with one another. Thus, taking intervals for rest and relief is vital.

Furthermore, as you are thinking about your plan for respite, I’m always planning my next travel… What destinations should I add to my bucket list for future respite adventures?

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Boost Productivity Through Respite