The Innkeeping Blog

I recently heard the following quip from a comedian, which made me laugh: “I’ve never stayed at a bed and breakfast, because I don’t think I would, because I figure, you stay at a bed and breakfast, by the end of the day, you start to get hungry. ‘Is that all you got around here? You need to direct me to a Chair & Lunch/Dinner.’ I’m going to open a chain of Chair & Lunch/Dinners and put them right across the street from bed and breakfasts. ‘Come over, about…one. But you have to leave at eleven, because you ain’t sleeping in the *$%^@* chair!’ ”

It got me to thinking about the last time I really had a good laugh, and I realized it’s been quite a while. When I thought about why this was so, I realized that I’ve been overly stressed recently, and that extends far beyond being the normal day-to-day life I live. I will admit the worry I feel for some of our innkeeping members in these very challenging economic times is adding a level of stress that I’m sure many of you are feeling now stronger than in past years as well. That’s quite normal, but if you let it consume you, you will pay a price in so many ways. This includes your health, judgment, relationship with your family members and customers, etc.

So, I want to encourage you to step back and make sure you reserve part of your life for an activity that you enjoy and will give you some relaxation and an escape from day-to-day worries. For me, that means being with my two little kids (ages 3 and 8 months) and letting all other stresses melt away. For you it could be a daily jog, working on your garden, playing Texas hold’em with a group in person or online, painting, drawing, taking a fun course at a local college. The choices are endless. Maybe you’ll choose going to a comedy club, or reading a funny book or watching a humorous movie. That has many benefits, and I can prove it!

The International Journal of Obesity recently conducted a study of 45 adult friends, who while connected to equipment monitoring the amount of calories they burned and their heart rates, watch a series of humorous film clips. The result? Researchers found that laughing increases both heart rate and calorie expenditure by up to 20 percent. With these results, scientists extrapolated that 15 minutes of laughter a day will burn 10-40 calories.

So, if you are a Type A workaholic and it’s hard to relax, just consider a few minutes of laughter a day to be part of your diet. If you step back for just a moment and ponder what’s REALLY important in life, it’s did you laugh and love with those who are important to you? We all have those moments when it hits us during a particularly wonderful moment in life (and for me it’s usually with my wife and children doing something fun) when you think, “This…now this is what life’s supposed to be about.” We need those moments more often in our lives – especially nowadays. Make room for them.

I know it’s cliché, but there’s that old saying about no one on their death bed says, “I wish I spent more time in the office…” I’m staring at ten days of vacation I didn’t take this past year, which “expire” in two days – my two year anniversary on the job as PAII’s CEO. I’m wondering why I didn’t plan better and just schedule to take those days off during the year. I encourage my innkeeping friends out there to make time for yourselves and your loved ones…and not take the job TOO seriously. Yes, it’s ok to take innkeeping seriously – I take this very job seriously – but just remember to have a nice balance of work, laughter, relaxation, spiritual growth, enlightenment, love and whatever else you can mix in there to be fulfilled.

Stay tuned for some wonderful things coming from PAII. I start my third year on Monday, and I’m more excited than ever. But at the same time, I’m going to forget about PAII this weekend and head to the Jersey Shore for a little R&R with my wife and kids.