Let’s make this the summer of rejuvenation.

Here in Atlanta, we are slightly ahead of most of the country, weather-wise. The flowers are blooming, the landscapers are back at it, and we’ve already had a few very nice weekends. It feels so liberating and restorative.

Let’s be honest, this may be the last summer we have the flexibility of a largely work-from-home mode. What a great opportunity to toss off the constraints of the past year and reconnect in an uplifting manner with the people closest to you.

I’m sharing this piece because even now, I come in contact with a decent number of leaders whose first tendency is to brush off the thought of a summer vacation. “Too much going on,” they might say, or, “I’ll think about that later.”

Well, it’s almost May and so far as I can see, everything is booking up much earlier this year, especially anything oriented around outdoor activities such as beach homes, national parks and mountain towns. That means if you delay much longer, nothing very appealing will be available or you won’t be able to find the time to take off. So be proactive—now—and book a real vacation, one that will allow your entire family to throw off the grey shroud of the past year.

I don’t care who you are and how hard you work… we have all been cooped up and isolated too much. And even if you are tough enough to power through, the odds are pretty good that your spouse, partner and/or kids don’t feel the same way.

Rent a cabin. Go to the beach. Climb a few mountains. Explore a couple of new cities.

In my case, we are headed to Florida; the beach is our happy place!

Back at home, make a point to entertain again. Clean the grill, and fire it up. Buy a couple new hammocks. Invite over the new neighbors. Invite back the ones who’ve lived nearby for 20 years.

Relationships matter most, especially personal relationships. No matter how important your work or how heavy your workload, acknowledge your humanity and please take time this summer for a true vacation.