Vacation

Jason was already overwhelmed.

​It was Monday morning, his first day back at work after a two-week vacation that ended up being more stress than relaxation. “I need a vacation from my vacation,” he half-joked to everyone who stopped him to inquire as he navigated his way through the building toward his office.

Before he can enter his office, Littlefield calls Jason over. He sits behind a sparse mahogany desk holding little more than an inbox with a single sheet of paper and a picture of the Littlefield family enjoying a relaxing weekend on a large boat.

Jason glances over to his own desk, piled high with documents to be reviewed, signed, commented on and edited. He had it whittled down to a short stack prior to leaving, but somehow it quadrupled in size again while he was away.

For thirty minutes Littlefield brings Jason up to speed on what he’s missed. Most of the information being dispensed Jason had already known before he even left. Only a few nuggets of information were actually new. He resists the urge to look at his watch while Littlefield drones on.

Just as he’s sure he was all caught up, and he would be able to start on the pile of paperwork on his desk, the company CEO pulls both men into a meeting where he’s sure to be burdened with more tasks and responsibilities. Glancing at his desk on the way to the conference room, Jason swears the piles are higher now than they were just a few minutes ago. And, of course, the tallest has a note taped to it that reads, “urgent.”

By the time Jason reached his desk and was finally able to sit down, it was almost time for lunch. He fires up his computer and sighs. Monday morning and he’s already overwhelmed. And that was before he opened his email.