Just Go!
As a person who is trying to be debt free and reach financial independence someday, I’m always looking for ways to cut expenses and save money. I’m okay with sacrificing cable and switching my cell phone to a virtually unknown company. I’m also okay with telling coworkers, “sorry, I can’t go out to lunch today.” I’m okay doing a lot of things differently to save money, but the one thing that I cannot do is NOT go on vacation.
I understand vacations could get expensive and if you are deeply into debt, I highly recommend you put vacations on hold for a little bit. However, if you are making headway into paying off your debt and haven’t taken a break in a while, maybe it is time to take a vacation.
If you are not sure whether you should take a break or not, here are some signs that you need a break.
9 Signs You Need A Vacation
1. Waking up feels like torture – If you hit the snooze button 37 times before getting up because you dread going to work – you probably need a vacation.
2. Wishing to get sick – If you are wishing to get sick or wishing you could break your leg so you don’t have to go to work – it’s time for a vacation.
3. You no longer care about work – If work feels like is so routine that you can do it with your eyes closed, or you just don’t feel like doing anything at work – you probably need a vacation.
4. Wardrobe malfunction – If you show up at work wearing two different color pairs of shoes or wearing pajama pants with your suit jacket – it’s time for a vacation.
5. Mood swings – If you want to punch people in the face when they say “good morning” or simply smile at you, and if you wish Nancy from accounting gets badly sunburned when she tells you she’s going to the beach this weekend – you probably need to seek help and then go on vacation.
6. Red spot on your forehead – If you always have a red spot on your forehead because you can’t seem to stay awake and keep banging your head on your desk – it’s time for a vacation.
7. About to lose it – If you can’t hide your disdain for a certain coworker and are about to drop kick him from the top of the conference room table – you probably need a vacation.
8. Haven’t seen your suitcase – If you haven’t seen your suitcase in so long that you don’t even remember what it looks like – it’s time to vacuum all the cobwebs off it, fill it up with comfortable clothing, and take a vacation.
9. Can’t look at yourself – If you need sunglasses to look at your pale legs and you are starting to look like Gollum from Lord of the rings – you probably need to go outside, and spend some time in the precious sun.
Go on Vacation
If you haven’t taken a break in a while and feel tired and bored with work, taking a vacation will help you recharge. It will help you relax and forget about work even if it’s just for a little bit.
You don’t have to spend a fortune on vacation; a staycation or even a short trip to a neighboring city could do the trick. But don’t wait too long because there’s only one month of summer left. Maybe it is also time to cross out some things off your summer bucket list.
So take a little break, enjoy yourself, and come back recharged and ready to tackle anything they throw at you at work – okay maybe on the second or third day back from vacation… I’m still on vacation my first day back to work.
When was the last time you went on vacation? Do you have anything planned or do they have to get a court order to get you to take a day off?
#5 and #9 cracked me up! The funny (or not) thing is I am sick right now, but I’m a freelancer so I still have to work through it. That sucks. 🙁 I would love a long relaxing vacation but it’s not in the cards for the rest of the year, but I can’t complain as I got an awesome paid for fun weekend last weekend, and I’ll be going home to Detroit in Oct, which doesn’t feel like a relaxing vacation so much, but it will do for now. 🙂 But next year I’m planning a long, two-week getaway!
It doesn’t need to be a long vacation; short little trips work as well. We just need some time to unwind.
We went on vacation at the beginning of July, it was a great way to recharge for the rest of the summer.
We did the same and felt so much better afterwards. I think I’m a little more productive at work after the vacation… maybe.
Haha…ah yea I think I need a vacation! After my son was born, I did take some time off but I’d hardly call that a vacation =) Well I loved spending time with him, but it would be great to have a family vacation too, though traveling is tougher nowadays since we have a kid. Also, my wife started a job less than a year ago so it is tough for her to take time off.
Yes it must be hard taking vacations with children, but a little weekend getaway could be nice.
I have no problem using every last minute of my vacation time. We’re skipping the big vacations for the time being, but there are plenty of places nearby that we can enjoy on the cheap. These mini-vacations almost keep me from looking at plane tickets to Europe every other week….
Mini vacations are a great way of keeping us from spending too much money on the big vacations. I should probably try doing that.
This list sounds about right! I always want a vacation, but I don’t always need one. My husband, on the other hand, seriously *needs* one sometimes. He goes crazy with work.
I didn’t get a chance to go on many vacations as a kid, as I guess I didn’t realize just how important they can be to stay sane at work. My boyfriend only gets 3 days of vacation this year, and we haven’t used any so far. Coincidentally, his company is having a golf outing tomorrow and Thursday near my parents, so he took Friday off for a long weekend. We’re trying to make it into a very frugal vacation!
Haha I love the “waking up feels like torture.” I remember that feeling when I had my day job. I absolutely hated it! I also hated the Sunday night dread…
LOL! These are great, Aldo. I am always up for a good vacation. We didn’t do a big trip this summer, just a few weekends away here and there but enough to keep us from reaching #3, #5, #6 and #7! 🙂
Weekend getaways have saved me as well. We haven’t gone camping this summer yet, but that should be our next little break.
Just having ONE of these issues could be considered in the need for a vacation. Hopefully that vacation opportunity is available when you need it 🙂
Hah, yes! According to your list I DO need a vacation :). #4 and #6 cracked me up!
Haha, yes! Some of those things made me smile. I do agree with taking a break; sometimes you just need to get away for a while.
That haggard face of Smeagol! LOL! I think I need a vacation too, but I do love my job, it’s just that I just want to unwind and breath some fresh air from different places.
Oh yes, number three occasionally rings a bell with me : ) There are days where I just can’t stand to look at another excel spreadsheet. It feels like my eyes might just fall out! I could definitely go for a vacation! Unfortunately our next trip won’t for two months!
Take a small weekend trip if you can. That could help.
Believe it or not, a few days before the end of the school year I did exactly this (#4): put on two shoes, similar in shape and color, but different nonetheless. And I noticed it when already came to work. The good thing, I ran to a nearby store and bought flip-flops before anyone noticed.
Don’t tell anyone, OK?