I just got back from a 2 week vacation. This was my first long vacation since I really have sunk my teeth into passion projects, and I found myself coding more than I anticipated.

Personally, I plug in when I code. I don the oversized headphones, listen to my focus music of choice, and zone out trying to solve problems. When I am home, I rarely set time limits for myself, and I continued that pattern on vacation. Something to note, I find coding therapeutic. I get to stretch my creativity, and I’m a bit of an introvert so coding gives me a chance to recharge from social interactions that I can find draining at times.

Inadvertently on this vacation, I isolated myself from my friends and family.

While everyone seemed content and made no mention of my absence, I could not help but feel like I was missing out on the intention of vacation. Instead of immersing myself in my book or chatting with people in lawn chairs, I spent time in front of my computer screen. Really nothing had changed from my day to day activities other than the setting and that I was working on fun problems by choice. Now that I am back, I am regretting limiting my screen time. I think there is this notion that vacation is supposed to be about reconnecting with people, strengthening existing relationships while also finding some me time away from the blue screen light. I cannot help this gnawing feeling that I missed out on some valuable parts of my vacation.

So my questions to the community, do you code while on vacation? If so, when do you find time to code? How do you feel when you code around people?

Selfishly, I do not want to stop coding when I’m on vacation. So, what tips do you have to help avoid my guilty feelings on future trips?