Have you ever avoided taking a vacation because you didn’t want to hassle with the planning? Do you regularly avoid taking a vacation because you figure it’s simply not worth the effort?
If you answered yes, you are far from alone. According to a new study, more and more Americans are eschewing traditional vacations and working down time into their everyday lives. Frankly, the study results shocked me. I love taking vacations. In fact, when I worked outside the home I regularly counted the days until the start of my vacations. I couldn’t wait to take a break from the rat race and escape to a tropical locale.
Alas, there are some who simply don’t get the same enjoyment out of a traditional vacation. Some survey respondents said they didn’t find preparing meals in an unfamiliar kitchen and worrying about the kids falling into the lake was “restful at all.” These are the same people who say instead of packing the kids into the van and heading to the beach they prefer to schedule “leisure time” into their everyday lives— from taking an afternoon nap to working in a day of sightseeing into a business trip.
The Orbitz (the online travel company) study also found a significant drop in the number of people taking three-week or two-week vacations and an increase in those taking a week or less. One-third of respondents said they took five or fewer days of vacation in the past year. But, health experts say those who are against taking traditional vacations are “missing the benefits of unplugging from the workplace for at least a week.” Specialists in labor economics say Americans work longer hours than their European counterparts and point to the fact that many Europeans take four to six weeks of vacation — often including the entire month of August when factories close — while many Americans take no vacation at all.
So what’s with the anti-vacationer? According to the survey, some workers don’t schedule vacation time because they worry that they’ll fall hopelessly behind at work if they take even a few days off. Then there’s the technology factor. Some people say that computers, phones, and other devices keep them connected to their jobs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year — creating the sense they can never get away.
So where do you fall? Do you love getting away on vacation or do you find staying at home is more appealing?
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