Your work desk has no feelings
With the general nosedive of the global economy since Fall 2008, we all know (or are) someone who’s been downsized or even straight-up laid off. If you’re gainfully employed these days, you might feel tempted to do anything to preserve the status quo at your gig…including sacrifice your vacation time.
For instance, according to this 2009 study by Mercer (a London-based human resources consultant firm), if you’re an employed American, it’s likely that you’re only taking 10 of the 15 days you’re (possibly) allotted…that is, if your employer believes in vacation time to begin with. The U.S. is the only country on Earth that has no government-mandated minimum of vacation days.
And even if you are managing to pry yourself out of the office, you might comfort your clients/co-workers/self with assurances that you can just take your work with you. For instance, last summer in Jamaica, Adam conducted an hour-long conference call with a client, a mojito and a view of the Caribbean. It may not be everyone’s idea of a break, but it’s how he reconciles running a company and a life far outside the office. It used to bother me that he couldn’t fully disengage from work while on vacation, but as I get older (and hopefully wiser), I’m simply grateful that he’s 1) left the office and 2) traveling by my side.
It’s not like I’m exactly blameless in this equation. In my travel blogger universe, I’m cyber-surrounded by people who tout the life-expanding joys of a life spent wandering with a laptop. Now that I’ve turned a passion into my de facto job, every trip I take is now more of an opportunity to mine material than relax; I often have to force myself to put down my electronics and mentally plug into my new environment.
Back at home in my in-person life, I know plenty of people who are workaholics, daunted by the concept of long-term trip planning, responsible for small children or some combination of the three. I know plenty more who would go anywhere if only they had the cash. For any of them, I’d point them in a few directions:
Travel blogs and magazines. Even if I’m not going somewhere myself, reading about travel can take the edge off a temporarily thwarted addiction. Personally, it reminds me that the rest of the world is going on right at that moment, and brings even its farthest corners closer to me. I share what I find with Adam, and it gets us to dreaming. Sometimes we find great stuff we’ve never heard of that’s within two hours of our home.
You can take a spin through some of my hundreds of posts and check out “Travel Blogs To Love” on my home page for other suggestions. Or, check out magazines like National Geographic Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler and Budget Travel.
Sites that suggest things to do in your area. Adam and I have free email subscriptions to what’s-going-on-in-your-neck-of-the-woods sites like Daily Candy, Thrillist and Flavorpill. I’m not saying we don’t spend quality time lolling at home, but if there’s a new-to-us gallery, museum, hike, market, café, we like to know about it so we have the option to check it out. Lots of couples hit a comfort-zone rut and never leave their own neighborhood, but vacation can be as simple as discovering something/somewhere new together on another side of town.
A calendar. Maybe you’ve managed to find a great travel deal but still feel like you can’t possibly take the time? Try thinking in terms of a long weekend. If you take off a Thursday through a Monday, that gives you five days to work with; even if you have to spend a whole day traveling on either side, that’s three whole days of being where you’d rather be. I’m not suggesting you let go of the dream of a two-week journey or even a three-month hiatus, but if stress about time is what’s holding you back, know that two of these “long weekend” trips a year will only burn through six of your mythical vacation days.
Don’t feel a long weekend is worth it? Well, check out my series on our recent trip to Maui. In four-and-a-half days, including travel time, we did everything we wanted to do and at a leisurely, largely-unscheduled pace. We even took naps.
Call a widowed person or visit your local assisted living facility, and ask them about the nature of work vs. vacation. If you want to know how the adage “at the end of life, no one will wish they had worked more” really plays out, there’s no better person to turn to than someone who’s lost their mobility…or their love.
Schedule time away from your office. Do it today. Or take one of your weekend days, from morning ’til night. Go somewhere together. Because nothing says “I love you” like taking time to have an adventure that will become part of your story.
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See related posts
CNN: 5 Ways to Stop Working on Your Vacation
CNN Money: While you’re away, the office will be okay
Westways: Take Your Vacation – Please!
CNN: Welcome to the ‘weisure’ lifestyle
Adam sounds like my husb too. RT @TravelsWithTwo Work v Vacation: Plan to go somewhere 
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I agree with that adage. You only need to leave a job to realise that we’re all replaceable. Nobody remembers you for your work but the way you lived. Bring on more holidays!