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According to a study conducted by Harris Interactive, only 51% of US employees take advantage of their paid time off. Even worse - 61% who DO use vacation time end up working while away.
You’ve heard time and time again just how important taking a break from the office is to maintaining a healthy work life balance. Not only to spend quality time with loved ones, but also to reduce stress and reboot & recharge for increased productivity upon return.
So vow to make 2016 the year of no unused vacation days! Here’s how.
First - prioritize travel over material things.
Remember, traveling is a choice. Much like purchasing new clothes or enjoying an expensive meal with friends is also a choice. After paying your bills each month and buying what is necessary to survive (i.e.: daily groceries), take the rest of your disposable income and start your travel fund.
Then - figure how much time you can take and commit to traveling.
When it comes to travel, you don’t always need a lengthy 2 week long vacation period. Perhaps an extended weekend could prove successful for your intended destination. Otherwise, when it comes to longer, week long trips, look at traveling over holidays and weekends to help get more travel days in for less time away from work. Rule out when you absolutely cannot go away and then identify at least 3 periods of time that would be most convenient for your vacation.
Now - do your research.
Make a list of a few key places you’ve always wanted to go. Got it? Great. Now think back to the previous step and look at the time periods you’ve chosen for travel. Once you have these basics, the answers to your next questions are quite literally at your fingertips. Read up on travel blogs, conduct google searches, and monitor airfare. Start keeping a record on the estimated costs for each trip - this excel spreadsheet idea from Peanuts or Pretzels is a great example:
Afterwards - book it!
Your research is done, the prices are all there, the dates align with when you can take off - time to request off from work and book. The longer you wait, the more stress and anxiety you’ll feel. As long as you can afford your trip (or have a plan on how to) and have the approval from your company - don’t let stress hold you back. After all, do you know many people who have said “I wish I never booked that trip to Italy?"
Something to consider when traveling abroad - immerse yourself in their culture.
Consider signing up for a language course or take advantage of free mobile apps like Duolingo to teach you some key words and phrases of the spoken language at your destination. See if any local restaurants serve that cuisine to start getting a taste of where you'll be. This will help excite you for the trip while equally making it a richer one once you arrive.
But also - don’t be afraid to explore your own backyard!
On the opposite end of our last point, don’t overlook your home state or region that has some worthy sights to see. Remember, National Parks across the country are beautiful - and free! Perhaps a road trip across the US is more up your alley.
