For more than 20 years, I didn’t have any choice on when I’d take a vacation. The school board granted my days when they approved the yearly calendar every February. And even though I did have some time off in summers, there were always more meetings, more planning sessions, and more work to do which made it hard to get away. I suspect it’s the same for most people.
We live at a time where, for some strange reason, people think it’s good to be a work martyr. In fact, in 2017, Americans left about 705 MILLION vacation days unused. But did you know that people who take their vacation days are actually happier and get more raises and promotions at work?* Last year Ann wrote a whole blog post about it, including all the positive effects of plannning vacations.
Looking at the wake of a cruise ship is honestly one of my favorite things to do on vacation. It’s a great way to relax and unwind.
Today is National Plan for Vacation Day. It’s a day dedicated to the idea that in order to take a vacation, and reap the benefits of it, you have to first make some plans. I wish I’d known about it years ago before I quit my job as a middle school principal, as I would definitely have put some time into vacation research.
Double-checking the map for where we need to go!
So what are you waiting for? We encourage you to take a few minutes this week and dream about where you’d like to go. Maybe it’s someplace far away you’ve never been, or maybe it’s a weekend getaway a little ways down the road. Just pick somewhere! Then, research your destination or contact a travel agent and make plans to get away from work this year. I think you’ll be surprised at how rested, rejuvenated, and more productive you’ll be when you return.
PIN FOR LATER
(*Source: www.projecttimeoff.com)
