Today is National Plan for Vacation Day, a time to encourage Americans to plot out their time off for the year. Whether you accrue hours or have an unlimited policy, workers in the US tend to struggle to take time off. In the past, people feared that taking time off would label them as less ambitious or they would miss out on critical work moments. However, like most aspects of our lives, the pandemic changed our outlook. After spending so much time at home, we are eager to get out and about. Plus, with work/life balance improving for many over the past year with remote or flex work, the excitement around putting up an OOO message is high.
If you find yourself staring at the calendar not knowing where to start, we have three tips to help you make the most of your vacation and return to the office stress-free.
1. Work With What You’ve Got
The first step to planning vacation time is understanding your company’s time off policies. How many days will you need to use? Can you convert sick time? These are important questions as you look at the whole year, as you do not want to run out of time when you want it, like at the holidays. As a freelancer or entrepreneur, you may have fewer restrictions on your time off, but it doesn’t necessarily make it easier to escape the office. Make a plan to vacation when you are historically less busy, such as after completing major projects.
