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While it seems from Instagram that literally everyone you know is on a vacation or preparing for one, the statistics don't bear that out, especially for Americans.
Do any of these sound familiar?
"My team will flounder without me there."
"There will be too much work to make up for when I get back."
"I try to take vacations, but by the time I realize I need time off, everything's booked."
These are just some of the reasons my American friends give for not using their vacation days—if they're lucky enough to get paid days off.
Unlike every other developed nation in the world, the U.S. has no mandated number of days off for employees. About one-fourth of American workers get no paid vacation at all. Those whose employers offer it receive an average of about 10 days a year. And 54% of American workers didn't even use the days off they earned, according to Project Time Off.
Meanwhile, workers in the United Kingdom get 28 days off, most of western Europe gets 25, laborers down under in Australia and New Zealand enjoy 20—and none of those totals include public holidays, which add on another 10 to 13 days per year in most countries.
While China only gets 5 mandated vacation days for the youngest workers (more as you advance), that doesn't include semi-annual chunks of time off called "Golden Weeks."
Why do so many Americans eschew vacations? It could be that because vacation time isn't mandated, but up to employers. Perhaps it's seen as some kind of bonus, rather than earned time off.
Or maybe it's because the United States doesn't have a strong vacation culture: Many American kids grew up with parents who didn't receive it or were also too busy to take time off. When those children start working themselves, they don't know what to do with their time off because they never learned it from their parents. It's hard to value something that's never been experienced.
The 1992 Framingham Heart Study, which still stands as the gold standard for long-term health studies, tracked workers over 20 years. sIt found that "men who don't take vacations were 30% more likely to have heart attack and for women it went up to 50%," according to Brigid Schulte, author of "Overwhelmed: Work, Love & Play When No One has the Time" and the director of the Better Life Lab at the New America Foundation.
Those numbers hold true even after researchers took into account other health factors like diabetes, cigarette smoking, income levels and obesity. The conclusions from the study have been backed up by other similar research studies.
"It shows how the body reacts to a lifestyle of stress. This is real evidence that vacations are important to your physical health," Elaine Eaker, a coauthor of the study, told the New York Times.
Travel reduces stress
Researchers have also found that vacation is also valuable for mental health and well-being.
"Vacation is essential to reset and remind yourself that career is not the be-all and end-all. There are other facets to a healthy existence [outside work]," said Sherry Amatenstein, a New York City-based therapist and editor of the anthology "How Does That Make You Feel? True Confessions from Both Sides of the Therapy Couch."
That mental break doesn't just feel good. It also benefits businesses -- which is probably why even though Western European workers have more time off than the US does, generous vacation policies haven't been found to affect productivity.
Schulte says that all the research points in the same direction. Those who don't take time off are "sicker, less productive, stressed, and more anxious and depressed—that affects your work as well."
She says it behooves managers, CEOs and leaders to create systems that prioritize a culture of vacation. Requiring workers to take time off or including vacation planning as a part of performance reviews are two ways to make sure time off is used—all of which will benefit the bottom line.
For the individual, it might sound strange, but vacations take practice, said Schulte. "The more we take that time, the more we want it," she said.
So, how do you get in the vacation habit? Like any other goal, it requires planning.
"The key reason people give for not taking vacations is that they don't feel they can leave work," says Schulte, but you can if you're organized.
Start by "writing in your calendar beforehand when to schedule time for a trip," said Amatenstein. Once the vacation is in your schedule—even if it's six or eight months from now—you can organize around it. And then check our amazing packages to travel to the beach!
Look at your workflow. In your own schedule, "clarify your priorities, delegate, and talk openly with your colleagues about your time off," says Schulte, so it's not an unexpected surprise when you're out of town. Schulte says that planning will force you to prioritize your goals over time and can be a net benefit, helping you work smarter and more efficiently.
Start viewing vacation time as a non-negotiable—like the dentist or yearly checkup, it's a vital part of your health care, so start treating it as such.
Source: Why vacations matter for your health
Waves gently crashing along the shore. Sunlight streaming from a cloudless sky. Miles of seemingly-endless sand joining the horizon. Sounds pretty peaceful, doesn't it? And for many of us who spend most weekday hours indoors, it doesn't take much persuasion to peel off the layers and catch some sun.
But if you do need more reasons to hit the beach, find out how the surf, sun, and sand can boost your physical and mental health.
Look no further than the experts. In a study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, author J. Aaron Hipp, Ph.D., environmental health expert and assistant professor at the Brown School, pointed to the restorative environment of the beach.
"Studies have shown that natural environments like beaches and waterfront parks offer more restorative benefits to people than gyms, entertainment venues and the built urban environment," said Hipp.
His study goes further to suggest that we require specific conditions in that beachside environment to achieve the fully-desired restorative effect.
"Mild temperature days and low tides offer the most restorative environments when visiting the beach," he said.
"Beachgoers visiting on a day nearly 3 degrees (F) warmer than average were 30 percent less likely to perceive the beach or coastal park as restorative, compared with those visiting on average or cooler than average days."
We all know the risks of too much sun exposure. But there are benefits to getting some rays, too.
When our skin is directly exposed to the sun, our bodies make vitamin D, a vital tool that helps with calcium absorption and building strong bones. Some of it comes from diet, but a good portion also comes from the sun. And according to the Mayo Clinic, as little as 10 minutes of sun exposure can provide us with our daily dose. According to the vitamin D council, "your body can produce 10,000 to 25,000 IU of vitamin D in just a little under the time it takes for your skin to turn pink."
In one study, sun exposure was shown to offer other benefits in addition to vitamin D production — including an increase in endorphins and possible prevention of autoimmune diseases.
But despite these benefits, limit your exposure to excessive sunlight to avoid skin cancer risks. When you do head out into the sun for more than a few minutes, remember to wear protective clothing and apply sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher.
Did you know that the soles of your feet have more sweat glands and nerve-endings per square centimeter than any other part of your body? And that walking barefoot stimulates them much more than walking in shoes?
Not only are you stimulating nerve endings when you walk on the sand, but you're also strengthening the muscles in your feet, which don't get used nearly as much when you're wearing shoes. And according to Martin Zucker, author of Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever?, you may be better connected to the earth when you ditch your shoes, reaping vital mood-boosting benefits. "Earthing," argues Zucker, reconnects our bodies to the ever-present energy of the earth, which modern lifestyles have increasingly diminished.
And in a study focused on running and walking on the sand, researchers found that walking on sand requires 1.6 to 2.5 times the energy than it takes on a hard surface.
"Our muscles perform more mechanical work when running or walking on sand than on a hard surface," said study co-author Dr. Thierry M. Lejeune, M.D.
If treading on the unwieldy sand for too long sounds tiring, try alternating your walk or run on the more compact sand closer to the water, where the surface will be less challenging.
Sea water contains high levels of various minerals — including magnesium, potassium and iodine — which may help fight infection, offer therapeutic effects, and potentially help the body heal and detoxify.
Swimming is linked to decreased stress and increased sense of well-being; studies have shown swimming and water-based exercise help to decrease anxiety and depression.
Aside from its therapeutics effects, swimming provides excellent physical exercise, employing most of our major muscle groups, especially as the water provides gentle resistance.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), swimming ranks as the fourth most popular sport activity in the United States. Among other aerobic activities (like running and bicycling), swimming for as little as two-and-a-half hours a week may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases and boost heart health.
And since it's a non-impact sport, swimming offers a great way for people with injuries to get some exercise. For sufferers of arthritis, water-based exercise can help improve joint pain symptoms.
Source (Medical Daily)
A weekend city break, a big family holiday, or a last minute business trip: whatever the reason you find yourself stressed out at the airport, here are a few insider tips. From secrets on how to jump the check-in queue to how to get an upgrade.
Figure out where the airport is
and how you get to it in advance. I find Google Maps travel planner useful but
it’s always best to check directly with public transport sites for timetables.
Chris Sharp, Business Intelligence Administrator
If you’re using a boarding pass
on your mobile phone, take a screenshot of it and save it in your pictures
folder on your phone (rather than relying on the airline’s app or on a good
internet connection at the airport).
Jon Thorne, User Satisfaction Manager
Or:
Although we live in an age where
you can check in with your smartphone and email, you never know when your phone
may just run out of battery or pack in.
Sam Ayles, PR Executive
Certain credit cards targeting travellers offer perks like free access to airport lounges. For example, I hold a card which gets me a priority lounge pass for two entries each year at Singapore (no minimum spending on the card required).
Another card I’ve got gives me
free airport limousine transfer from my home to the airport as long as I’ve
booked my travel on the card and I spend the minimum set amount.
Hollie Tan, Accounts Executive
During holiday times airports like London Gatwick can get EXTREMELY busy. You could be standing the check-in queue for ages.
The trick in that case is not to
join the queue but to go and sit in a café and read a book. When the airport is
that busy they call out the flights that are due to depart first and let their
passengers through as a priority. You can therefore sit and relax while you
wait for your flight to be called. When it is you can go straight to the front
of the queue.
Sam Heyman, Test Engineer
If you’re really cutting it fine
for time, a polite word to an airport employee almost always results in a queue
jump at security. Failing that, a plea to fellow passengers in the queue is
your next best option.
Lisa Imlach, PR Executive
At security, if you don't want to
set off the alarms after waving goodbye to your hand luggage, keys, mobile
phone, laptop etc, make sure you remove all the Crown Jewels you are wearing.
Apparently, my watch, earrings, necklace and ring MIGHT set off the alarms. On
a recent visit to the airport, I was subjected to the most intimate body search
of my 50 year-old life (bearing in mind I travelled back and forth to the Far
East from the age of 10). And I was only travelling to the Shetlands!
Alison Stimpson, Executive PA
Take a spare ziplock bag or two
to get your toiletries through security checks – it’s ridiculous and annoying
that some airports will charge you a few quid if you forget one!
Rachel Evatt, Product Director
Go for the one with the ‘suits’.
It will move much quicker.
Alistair Hann, Skyscanner Chief Technology Officer
I make sure I wear socks of the
same colour and don´t look to old! Just in case I have to take off my shoes.
Angel Guirado, Market Development Manager, Spain
Try to fly at a time which means
it’s socially acceptable to taste the whisky samples at duty free - i.e. not
6am.
Chris Sharp
Set an alarm on your phone to go
off at boarding time, it’s easy to get distracted in the departure lounge.
Chris Sharp
If travelling with kids, ensure
you have their game consoles handy (and FULLY CHARGED) to allow you to have as
stress-free a time while waiting to depart. Having three kids myself, it’s
definitely on my MUST DO list for the airport. Each of the kids has a small
backpack containing game consoles, pens, pencils and a pad of paper so they can
draw etc. Plus it saves on the wallet if the kids happen to spy those $1-a-go
arcade machines. I’m now a master at noughts & crosses, hangman etc…
Ronnie Walker, Senior Engineer
Connect to WiFi and get some work
done.
Or:
- read the economist from cover to cover. It's something to look forward to.
- Get your shoes shined
- Buy clothes, and do other things you would have to do anyway, so use the dead
time.
Gareth Williams, Skyscanner CEO
Sit comfortably in departures
where you can see the boarding desk and (assuming you have a pre-allocated
seat) read your book until the last possible minute. When the queue is down to
one person, get up and casually stroll through the departure gate onto the
plane. The plane won’t leave without you until they have at least called out
your name.
Dom Porter, Software Engineer
Always wait until the ‘flight
closing’ announcement before boarding the plane. Then, if you see any empty
seats in Business Class, as you work your way through to Economy, sit in one of
them, on the basis that it must be available, given that the flight was
closing. Hope that the flight attendants won’t question it. Sometimes it works,
sometimes it doesn’t!
Mark Logan, Chief Operating Officer (Mark says this is a tip from a ‘friend’.
He would never do this!)
I’ve had some very varied
experiences arriving at immigration, particularly in the USA, ranging from
being processed quickly in a few minutes to being asked to go off to the
interview room for a secondary interview (that was a fun start to my
honeymoon). Be smartly dressed, polite and well spoken, make good eye contact
with the immigration official and have a clear idea of where you are going next
(name of hotel, car hire). Never ever make jokes and do not use your mobile
phone. Also make sure you have a credit card to hand and if possible local
currency as you may be asked to prove you are able to pay your way If you are
travelling on business, never say “I am here to work” as they will be concerned
that you are going to be working illegally; a better phrase is: “I am here to
have some meetings with business colleagues”.
Robert
Smith, Technical Manager
Whenever you get up to leave
somewhere at the airport - in a café, a bar or at the gate - always turn round
and make sure you haven’t left anything behind - like your tickets.
Suzanne Morrison, Skyscanner Project Manager
That way you’ll gain access to
the lounge as their guest, where you can stockpile glossy magazines, packets of
biscuits and condescending looks.
Lisa Imlach
Either get there
early or know how to get through the airport better than George Clooney in Up in the Air. When you add people
who are unpredictable to a controlled environment, it’s organised chaos.
Matt Smith, Content Partnerships Executive
From Caribbean beaches to Pacific cruise ports, destinations in Mexico offer optimal inexpensive getaways. Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) and The Riviera Maya are just three vacation hotspots that won't wreck your wallet. Don't let pricey airline tickets ruin your vacation budget. With a few simple tips, save money you can spend instead on tours, souvenirs and enjoying Mexican culture.
Use the calendar
Use Southwest Airlines Low Fare Calendar online to view the cheapest times to fly to Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City or Los Cabos. Enter your origination and destination cities and click on the month that you wish to travel. A calendar pops up showing the best deals for each day of the month. For example, airfare the day after Christmas and the weekend before Christmas is the most expensive time to travel during the month of December on a flight from Phoenix to Cancun. A flight costs less than half as much during the first 12 days of the month or after the first week of January.
Avoid Holiday Travel Times
Visiting Mexico during national holidays can be a festive and exciting experience, but you'll also pay a premium for airfare. Travel during times when school is in session and government and businesses offices are open to find the lowest rates. Mexican citizens tend to travel during the national holidays when many businesses close for one or more days. Airfare increases to Mexico for the Christmas holiday season beginning with December 12, the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Although the main focus of the festival is Villa de Guadalupe Hidalgo north of Mexico City, the national holiday gives citizens time to travel in all parts of the country. The winter holiday season ends with the New Year's holiday. The Easter season is another busy travel season in Mexico where Maundy Thursday and Good Friday just before the Easter weekend are national holidays. Other national holidays include:
Constitution Day, the first Monday in February
Benito Juarez's Birthday, the third Monday in March
Labour Day, May 1
Independence Day, September 16
Revolution Day, the third Monday of November
Price flights online
If you know when you want to go on your Mexican holiday, check out onsite price matching sites like JustFly or Google Flights. Although you might have to move quickly to snag the very best deal, take time to check out the details before you commit. Some prices you'll find online don't include taxes and additional fees, which can tack on more than $100 on a flight from Phoenix to Cancun, for example. Lower priced fares might add one or more stops, extending your flight time. For example, a 4.5-hour flight from Phoenix can turn into 15 hours of flying and airport layovers when you fly via Dallas to save a few dollars. Keep legroom in mind, too. Google Flights includes how much legroom you'll have which, if you're tall, can be worth paying more for to be comfortable for hours in the air.
With SQN Getaways, find the best accommodation packages and have an amazing time in paradise.
Source: (Usa today)
