Out of the Office: Why You Should Use Every Vacation Day
When was the last time you turned on your out-of-office message and actually meant it?
No checking email from the beach. No “quick call” from the hotel room. Just time away.
If you can’t remember, you’re not alone. So many of us leave vacation days on the table every year. We tell ourselves we’re too busy, or that we’ll take a real break once things slow down. But things rarely slow down on their own.
Time away isn’t a luxury. It’s one of the best things you can do for your mind, your body, and the people you love.
Why Time Away Matters
It lowers your stress, and the effect lasts. Even a long weekend can help. One study found that a short getaway reduced stress for up to 45 days after people got home. [link to study]
The happiness starts before you leave. Just having a trip on the calendar gives you something to look forward to. Researchers at the University of Surrey found that anticipating a vacation boosts happiness before you ever pack a bag. [link to study]
You come back better at your work. Stepping away is how you avoid burnout. You come home rested, with a clearer head and room for fresh ideas.
It’s good for your health. Time away can ease anxiety and keep your mind sharp. It may even protect your heart. One study reported in the Los Angeles Times found that women who took a vacation only once every six years or less had a much higher risk of heart attack than women who got away at least twice a year. [link to article]
It makes life richer. Travel gives you memories you’ll talk about for years. It stretches you, builds your confidence, and opens your eyes to how other people live. They say travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer, and I believe it.
How Often to Get Away
If a short trip lowers stress for about 45 days, that’s a good rhythm to aim for: some kind of break every month and a half. It doesn’t have to be big. A weekend away counts.
With two boys in school, our trips follow the school calendar. We save the longer vacations for summer and fit weekend getaways in during the school year. Those little trips keep us going between the big ones.
If you work remotely, it’s tempting to just take your laptop somewhere new. That can be wonderful. But give yourself at least one full week completely off first. A change of scenery isn’t the same as a real rest.
Make the Memories Last
I love making memory books from our trips. The ticket stubs, the funny things the kids said, the little restaurant we stumbled on by accident. Those are the details that fade if you don’t write them down.
That’s why I designed our travel journals. Each one has room for about two years of adventures: ten weekend getaways, four week-long vacations, and one ultimate trip of up to thirty days. Sometimes just seeing those empty pages is the nudge you need to plan the next one.
I’ve made a promise to myself to use every vacation day I have, every year. The work will always be there. These years with my family won’t.
One Simple Step
Open your calendar right now and pick your next getaway, somewhere in the next 45 days. It can be one night away or a long weekend.
Put it on the calendar. The happiness starts the moment you do.
