A proven trick for never wasting a vacation day

Here’s a staggering fact: Americans leave 658 million vacation days unused each year.

We need a change. We’re suffering from burnout. We’re prioritizing hours worked over productivity. We’re putting our family, friends and ourselves last. That’s not fun, nor is it healthy!

But there is something you can do to fix this issue:

Plan your time off in advance.

Less than half of households set aside time to plan the use of their vacation time each year. 51 percent of those who planned their vacation days took all of their time off, where just 39 percent of non-planners did.

So, join me and Project: Time Off on National Plan for Vacation Day.

On the last Tuesday in January, we’re encouraging Americans to declare their vacation days for the rest of the year, at the start of the year. In our culture of packed schedules, hyper-connectivity, and work martyrdom, American workers are in serious need of a break. It’s time to start being intentional about how we spend our days.

I know you have meetings and conference calls, but taking a break is good for your health, relationships and happiness. Let’s get that vacation on the calendar before it’s filled with things you “have to” do.

Still not convinced vacation planning deserves your attention? Studies have found that time spent vacation planning correlated with greater happiness in nine categories, including:

• 85% of planners report they are happier with their relationships with their significant other, compared to 72% of non-planners.
• 69% of planners, compared to 60% of non-planners, report being happy with their relationships with their children.
• 81% of planners say they are happy with their financial situation, compared to 71% of non-planners.
• 90% of planners are happy with their professional success, compared to 82% of non-planners.

Intellectually, I’m sure you know this…. And yet, 51 percent of Americans skip the one step that could help them vacation: planning.

So I say to you, America: Take back your calendars and #PlanForVacation. Break out the calendar and start planning your vacation days at the start of the year. C’mon, you deserve it! Making your vacation happen this year is as easy as getting it on the calendar.

So are you going to join me on National Plan for Your Vacation Day or what?