Are you ready for National Plan for Vacation Day?
Make a plan to use that personal time off this year
How’s your January going? I have a suggestion that could make it better. In our last newsletter, we mentioned an upcoming event that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves, National Plan for Vacation Day. Every year on the last Tuesday of January, we are encouraged to carve out time to plan the vacations we’ll be taking during the year ahead. Who needs a specific date to make plans for vacation? We do.
A study released by Sorbet found that as a collective group, we struggle with actually using up all of our Personal Time Off (PTO)…especially women and parents of young children. At a time when so many of us are burnt out from the holidays and the never-ending repercussions of the pandemic, it’s something more of us should be paying attention to. So, this year, I challenge you to use ALL of your PTO! Get out your calendar, set aside some time and dream a little.
5 Reasons Why Vacation is Good for Your Health
You should use all of your PTO because, well, why not? But this year you might want to also give serious thought to using that time to improve your wellness. The good news is that just taking the vacation can be good for you. Add on a spot where you can hike, meditate or recline stress-free and you can double down on those good feelings. Still on the fence? Over at Globetrotting Mama we’re sharing five reasons why scheduling that PTO now is a good idea. Here are a few to get you started.
Reduce Stress
We live in a “hustle culture” that is all about work, work, work. It’s only recently that our mainstream culture seems to have realized that there is merit in rest and relaxation (including how these things can boost productivity in the workplace). As you plan your trips for the year, be sure to include vacations that will help to reduce your stress. This might be a physical location, or it could mean a less stressful itinerary. Leave room for more spontaneous activities (or maybe just scheduling in some naps).
Improve Mental Health
When you plan out that PTO for the year, consider planning ways to improve your mental health. This might mean going on a yoga retreat and unplugging from society. Perhaps it means scheduling a “staycation,” so you don’t have to deal with the stress of travel. No matter where your destination ends up being, incorporating fun and playful, peaceful or reflective activities could be a major bonus for your mental health.
Physical Well-Being
While stress reduction and mental health are certainly aspects of overall well-being, you can also glean some physical benefits from using those vacations days. People tend to move more when they’re exploring somewhere new. Whether its hustling to catch transportation, or a planned hike in the mountains, travel generally tends to get up and moving. Tuning into your body’s physical energy might be something you don’t get to do often with an office job, so plan some opportunities to get out in nature. Go on a biking tour, kayak with the family, or run a Disney 5K. Whatever you choose, you can reap those unexpected physical rewards of using your vacation days.
Other Benefits
If you aren’t convinced already, hop over to the Globetrotting Mama blog to see some other benefits to actually using that vacation time this year. By using those PTO days, you may just find some renewed energy, a new hobby you can continue at home and a rekindling of connections with the ones you love.
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