Don't Forget Your Vacation Days

Optimize Your Time Off

Vacation days can be a precious and limited commodity. How often has your vacation ended and you've found yourself wishing it could have been longer or wondering what you really accomplished or experienced? Here are some pointers to help you take full advantage of your vacation days.

Determine how you want to spend your vacation in advance.

Do you want to take a trip? Need to tackle home improvements? Try to set an agenda for how you want to spend this time so that you can plan accordingly.

Let everyone know you're on vacation.

Leave an out-of-office response on your phone and e-mail, so co-workers and clients know you're not in the office and are unreachable during your time off. Try to give them a backup person they can reach so they don't have to track you down.

Make a list.

If you plan to use your time off to get organized, consider making a list of the closets, rooms and other areas of your house you want to tackle and what supplies (such as storage bins, garbage bags or hangers) you'll need. If you plan to travel, make a list of the activities you want to do and places you want to see. A clear plan will help you make the most of your time at your destination.

Avoid idle distractions.

Unless your idea of time well spent on your vacation is lounging in front of the television, turn it off. If you don't, you may just find yourself still in your pajamas at 1 p.m. watching an old movie marathon while your precious vacation time slips away. However, if that's what you enjoy, by all means do it.

Carve out some "me" time.

Whether traveling or tackling home projects, be sure to remember that a vacation isn't a vacation if it doesn't include some down time. So try taking some time each day to do something you truly enjoy.