Introducing the new “Plan for Vacation Day,” stats and facts about people who don’t take time off, and the benefits of planning a vacation. In partnership with Visit California, including my personal favorite California destinations.
January 31st is “National Plan for Vacation Day” in the USA. Well, it is as of 2017. I’ll take this new holiday over others.
If travel is the new Mercedes, you’d think that all Americans would take advantage of their paid vacation and time off, but recent studies show that Americans leave 658 million days unused each year.
WOW.
Can I take those days for you?!
The #1 way to make time for time-off is to actually stop and plan out your vacation.Click To Tweet“The single-most important step workers can take is to plan their time off in advance. Yet less than half (49%) of households set aside time to plan the use of their vacation time each year.”
It’s worse in California. 67% of Californians forfeited at least some of their vacation time last year, leaving behind 139 million unused vacation days – more than any other state.
Come on Californians?! WHYYYY.
You don’t even have to go that far to take a hike.
Or hit the beach.
Manhattan Beach Pier | Photo collaboration with Travel in Her Shoes
To experience art.
The Los Angeles Contemporary Museum of Art
Or indulge in America’s best wine regions.
Napa Valley, California
To ski and snowboard…
Skiing in Squaw Valley, California
You get the picture!
It doesn’t make sense that Californians aren’t taking time off
when we have so much beauty just a drive or short flight away.
What are the benefits of taking time off?
Employees who have taken 10+ days of vacation time are more likely to have received a raise or bonus in the last three years, than those who took 9 days or less.
Almost 2/3 of employees boast better productivity at work with taking time off.
Employees who take time off have higher performance and more positive attitudes towards work.
Other effects include increased happiness, improved mental and physical health, and better relationships and social life.
Not only are you happier at work, but also at home! The amount of time taken off shows a clear correlation of more vacation days used and less stress at home.
The outcome is clear — taking time off is great for us, so why pass up the hikes, bites and experiences?
Yosemite National Park, California
Why don’t workers take time off?
- 65% of employees “report that they hear nothing, mixed messages, or discouraging messages about taking time off.”
- To most employees, their boss — not their family — influences whether or not they will take time off.
- “80% of employees said if they felt fully supported and encouraged by their boss, they would be likely to take more time off.”
Good thing I’m my own boss.
I fully support my decision to travel.
Snow play at Big Bear Mountain, California
Top barriers to taking time off include:
- 37% of workers fear falling behind in work.
- 30% of people who work cannot financially afford a vacation.
- 30% of employees believe no one else can do the job.
- Apparently, 28% believe that the more you grow in the company, the more taking time off is harder.
- 22% also feel that not taking time off is a way of showing “complete dedication.”
I don’t know about you… but my time off makes me feel on top of the world.
So are you in? National Plan for Vacation Day, January 31st
Start planning your vacation at visitcalifornia.com
My Top California Destinations 2017
Yosemite National Park
Santa Monica, Venice Beach and Big Bear
Big Sur
Napa Valley
Potato Chip Rock, San Diego
Tahoe / Squaw Valley
Big Pine North Fork, Inyo National Forest
Paso Robles
Mount High
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Thanks for reading!
Love this! Didn’t know it was a real day haha. I feel I’m always thinking about or planning small getaways anyway. Can’t wait until we take some real time off to travel for a few months straight. Happy Vacation planning!
LOL, I had no idea there’s a National Plan a Vacation Day. If you asked my husband, he’d say that’s what I do every day. :)
So weird that so many Californians didn’t take vacation days. Maybe because every weekend is a mini staycation? :)
Wow, 658 million days unused each year!!!! That amazes me!! You would think people would be jumping to take their vacation days! Sad to hear that they expire too – I guess I should consider myself very lucky that in Australia if you miss them, they keep accruing. And then if you leave employment you get paid out for any vacation time you didn’t take.
Such a fab initiative to convince people to plan their vacation … sharing now!
Ahhh I love that there is a day dedicated to travel planning. How come this is the first time I’ve heard of this?? I need to spend this day wisely! I agree with you, taking time off is good for you – I wish I was my own boss so I could support my need for a ridiculous amount of holidays each year…
I’ve never heard of this, but it makes a lot of sense. It’s important for people and companies to realize that there needs to be a balance between work and vacation. I feel pretty lucky that I can manage my work time and my travel time on my own terms, but many people cannot.
I can’t imagine leaving vacation days on the table! There are circumstances but if ever there’s a chance to travel I’m out the door.
That used to be me before I was my own boss. When your career is in a culture where time away from work is frowned upon and your desire to have vacation or even work-life balance is seen as not being fully dedicated to your job, you sacrifice. It’s really a shame that it is like that in many career fields in the US. I don’t know how we even fell in to believing that.
Wow, 658 million days !!!! It sounds crazy, I am not sure if there is any figure about other nations or not, but I am sure that I don’t have many unused days :)
I already knew that Americans are the people who travel the least and rarely take time off but those are a hell of a lot of wasted vacation days – wow!! The sad part is that all those people not taking time off aren’t any more valuable to a company – they’re just as ready to cut personnel no matter how much time they put in. Go take your vacation days people!!