4 Ways To Be A Better Vacationer

There is a massive problem in our country centered around the inability to vacate. This problem limits people to fulfill their potential. But we must understand that we cannot be our best if we don’t know how to rest.

Research has shown that employees who take consistent vacation days receive better scores on their end-of-the-year performance reviews. The boost is nearly a 10% increase. These employees tend to stick around long-term and are overall happier compared to those who skipped the vacation time. The problem is the research is conclusive that fewer vacation days actually backfire by limiting productivity. According to Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, people who don’t take vacation time believe to be more devoted to their jobs than others. Dow said, “They say, ‘I don’t want to be seen as a slacker. I want to be seen as someone who is really dedicated.’ But it does them no good whatsoever. People who take more time off tend to get more raises and promotions.”

Americans work more hours and take less vacation than nearly 98% of other countries in the world. No wonder the World Health Association ranks America as the third worst country for mental health illness and number one for depression and anxiety disorders. If we don’t know how to properly rest we will suffer the consequences of an imbalanced life. Living imbalanced is the root problem with us physically, emotionally, and ultimately spiritually.

We need to make sure we treat our rest just as important as we do our work. We hear a lot about being a better worker, being a better producer, being a better doer, but we never hear someone talk about being a better vacationer. Being a better vacationer will eventually allow you to become a better person holistically.

So here are 4 ways to be a better vacationer:

1) Invest Money Into Your Well-Being

Too many people complain they don’t have money to take a vacation. Yet, they have enough money for those three entertainment subscriptions (Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, etc…) or spend enormous amounts on monthly cable bills. I could go on an on…but the truth is we find money for the things we really want in life. What most people are saying is, “I don’t prioritize vacation money like I do the other things in life.” I want us to change this type of thinking. Budgeting money to get away is an investment in your future and your soul-care. You can’t afford to not spend money on getting away regularly. A vacation doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive. Simply making some time to get away from your daily grind can be basic and thrifty if need be. Set aside money from each paycheck to start saving for your next getaway. Just like you save money to pay your energy bill each month, you should save money to pay your internal energy bill as well.

2) Schedule A Getaway Now

If you don’t get intentional about scheduling a getaway it will never happen. If you wait for leftover time to open up on your calendar…it won’t! Something will always try to steal your time before you get control of it. Don’t fall victim to an overstocked schedule with an unsatisfied life. Get your vacation on the books now before anyone or anything consumes all your time. Be intentional about where you want to go, what you want to do, and how much time it will take. The secret is to force yourself to get away. If you wait till you need it, you have waited too long. Getting away should be a proactive plan, not a reactive response. If you wait till you can’t go on anymore it will take much longer to recover. This is why you must have a good rhythm of getting away systematically.

3) Eliminate The Guilt

Many people don’t get away because they feel guilty they are not working hard enough. Like the workers we read about earlier, people feel they are more dedicated and harder workers if they don’t take time off. But this is limited thinking and it will only stifle your ability to produce more over the long haul. There is NO reason to feel guilty about taking care of yourself. In fact, the most successful people in life usually have the most margin––it’s not happenstance, it’s by design. And it’s not because they are successful that they have margin, but rather, they are successful because they have margin. Never allow negative thinking to make you feel guilty that you should be doing more. Could we be doing more? Sure! But just because you could do something doesn’t mean you should do something. Understand that getting away is not running from stress, it’s running to greater energy. Vacationing isn’t about escaping what we do, it’s about embracing who we are.

4) Be A Life-Long Member

Join the vacation club! No, not a membership offer from a resort, I’m talking about an internal commitment to being a life-long vacationer. The club that is made up of people who truly believe in being their best. A club made up of people who want an inspirational rhythm to their life. A club belonging to those who are dedicated to living life to the fullest. Being a great vacationer is not about being lazy and selfish, it is about being focused and committed. We can’t help others with our best if we are not at our best. We impact others when we are in a good rhythm. The more drained we are, the less we have to offer the world, however, the more energized we are, the more we have to offer. I understand vacationing and resting can get out of balance, and turn into a selfish, pleasure-seeking, lazy excuse, but let’s make it something better. Let’s keep life in balance and understand how to rest hard so that we can work even harder. Vacationing is like a rubber band, you have to pull back in order to advance further. It’s a means to an end. The better vacationers we can be, the better vocationers we will become.