Finances And Money

With the recession that we are in many U.S. workers are worried that they are not going to be able to take any time off to relax and to enjoy the vacation that they were looking forward to. According to a recent survey 51% of Americans said that they will not be taking a vacation this year because they feel the need to save up as much money as they can.

“Vacations are usually the first thing to go when people feel job or economic pressure,” says Joe Robinson, a trainer in work-life balance and author of “Work to Live.” He continues, “We’re programmed to believe that free time is worthless, a frill to shove aside, but vacations are as important as watching your cholesterol or getting exercise.”

Not only can this happen – but many employers will find it bad for business if their employees do not take a vacation. Milo and Thuy Sindell, founders of Hit the Ground Running and authors of “Job Spa,” say, “You are not helpful to the company and your coworkers when you are not operating at full capacity. Vacations help you to get rejuvenated to come back to work at full capacity.”

Experts in this field have given us a few tips that will help us to solve our financial problems so that we can take the time off we need:

• Remind yourself: Vacation is not a luxury. “You owe it to yourself, your family, and your company to take care of yourself by stepping out of the office for at least a few days at a time,” says Liz Bywater, president of the Bywater Consulting Group, which helps improve organizational performance.

• Put aside some funds each week. “Even $50 a week [or less] can add up and make your trip happen,” says Robinson.

• Plan leisure activities near home. “Stay at home and read, garden, hike, jog, bike, or whatever you like to do but never have enough time for during the weekends,” say the Sindells. “Or be a tourist in your own city.”

• Try home-swapping. You can swap with someone you know in another city, or use an online service, such as homexchange.com or even vrbo.com (Vacation Rentals by Owner). “It can have the look and feel of a vacation at a much more affordable housing cost than paying for hotel or resort lodging,” says Michael Haubrich, president of Financial Service Group and an expert in financial planning for career issues.

• Keep the itinerary simple. Travel columnist Donald D. Groff recommends selecting a destination within 200 miles (a three-hour drive) from your home. If you’re traveling by plane, fly nonstop whenever possible. “The sooner you get to your destination, the sooner your relaxation begins,” Groff says.

• Give yourself a deadline. “Stop thinking about it and just do it,” says Bywater. “Think of it as ‘doctor’s orders.’”