Are you Vacation Deprived?

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Remember when you were little and you went back to school in the fall? I'll bet one of the first activities was to write a story entitled, "What I Did on My Summer Vacation." There was usually no shortage of interesting stuff that you had done during your holidays that you could write about. Or when you were a little older, you probably looked forward all year to spring break and the fun and relaxation that promised.

As adults, almost fifty percent of people do not take all of their vacation days. Coupled with a tendency to work through lunch and breaks, it's safe to say that many people are vacation deprived.

What happens to us that we so easily give up our vacation time?

It's likely we succumb to all sorts of internal chatter that we're too busy or we feel guilty taking time off or we'd rather take the cash payout.

It's ironic that negotiating vacation days is often an important part of a job offer, but then people don't take advantage of the time available to them.

You are fooling yourself if you think that you can continue to give a peak performance if you never take time off. It's also not true that you are indispensible at work. Given some unexpected event, things would carry on without you.

Recharge your batteries

The purpose of a vacation is to take a break, recharge & restore yourself, have fun or adventure, and experience new things like cultures, cuisine, or activities.

There are lots of ways to vacation - from backpacking to 5 star resorts, visiting another country or enjoying a staycation, having an adventure or simply getting some rest and relaxation. It's not so important what you do on your vacation as it is that you take the time away from your usual routine.

Part of life balance is taking the time to recharge your batteries. When you do that, you return to work and home with more enthusiasm, a fresh perspective and more energy to take on the demands of life.

When was the last time you had a vacation?

What are your favourite excuses for not taking time off?

In what ways are you fooling yourself about not needing a break?

So count up your vacation days and grab a calendar. Make this the year that you use all the time available to rejuvenate. Consider your vacation a gift not just to yourself, but to your family and coworkers too.

Read- 5 Tips for Planning a Staycation

Laurel Vespi, certified life coach, award winning author and chief executive guru of stone circle coaching, ignites businesses & individuals to new levels of CHANGE. Laurel works with clients internationally, providing unconventional yet practical tips that make the seemingly impossible... possible! Sign up for Laurel's free ezine and get a free guidebook to blissful living at www.stonecirclecoaching.com