I currently have over two weeks in vacation time. That’s after taking almost three weeks to go to Europe and several other days throughout the year for other shorter trips. How did this happen? I’m a state employee and have worked for the State for a long time. Most departments actually don’t hire people in the same way that they hired me, so I’m pretty lucky.
Initially, I was accumulating around 8 hours a month in vacation time and that time could roll over to the next year. After a number of years my time added up to a substantial amount.
This year I currently accumulate 10 hours of vacation time a month and it continues to roll over. The way I grew my vacation time was by using a simple strategy. Don’t use my vacation every year! I live in a great place so in general (when I’m not horrifyingly broke) I feel pretty relaxed and rested. I can go to the mountains and hang out, ride my bike around town, walk around, or chill out at the coffee shop.
I think the key to rocking my vacation time has been to maintain a fairly healthy work/life balance through out the year. I do tend to work a lot but there are things at my job that I enjoy so sometimes it doesn’t feel like work. It has taken me 10 years to really work my vacation time to my advantage and really wrap my head around the fact that MY VACATION TIME ROCKS!!
Here are some of my tips.
- If you are looking for a new job ask if the vacation time rolls over to the next year.
- Discreetly ask if people actually TAKE their vacation.
- Look around if there are bikes or other types of gear in the office space. If there is then probably this organization values work/life/ health balance
- Incorporate your three day weekends into your yearly vacation planning. For example: I get a random 3 day weekend at the end of March. I will go and visit my Grandma during that weekend. I might add an additional day so that we can have enough time together so I would get 4 days for the price of 1! I still get to see my Grandma and I still have plenty of time to go on a great vacation overseas vacation it’s a win win situation for everyone.
- Try to travel off season. Not only off season for travel, but during a quiet time at work. It will make your employer happier to let you take time off,you’ll save money, and depending on where you’re traveling a lot fewer tourists. One year I went to Buenos Aires, Argentina for 3 weeks to study Spanish-paid vacation. BOOM! But, I went during May. It was downtime for my office, and downtime in Argentina (it was late fall/early winter), and right before the Summer travel season. I had an amazing time on that trip in 2009!
- Tack on vacation days to other holidays.
When you’re using your benefits employ a strategy so that you don’t waste what you have.
- What if your organization changes its vacation policy? For example, what if you are currently able to roll over your time and then your organization says that you can no longer do that. I would ask a couple of questions. First, (in a very nice way) why is the policy changing? A change like this could be a reflection of overall organizational health or a change in the financial health of the organization. The business may be hoping that you will leave your time on the table. DON’T DO THIS!!! This is how we lose money, work/life balance, and the power of great benefits. Second, see if you will receive a payout. Or, see if you can get a partial payout and use part of your time.
Because of my wonderful vacation time I think I was able to manage all of my financial stress a lot better because I could take time off-even if I decided to take a staycation.
I will have 6 days off in December because I am taking a vacation day and tacking it on to other days that my organization will already have off. No, I won’t be checking my work emails. I will be resting, and gearing up so that when I return to work I can kick A@@ !!
Right now I am training for a 1/2 marathon in Miami at the end of January. I am working on my abs, and overall general fitness. I will take a few days off for that too. Don’t forget, my vacation time continues to grow each month. I’ve decided to stay closer to home this year with exception of visiting my Grandma and a possible trip to Central America which is really cheap. I am working on a big trip for 2015. It is long overdue and I’ve decided to start planning.
L.A. 2012
Miami 2012
London 2013
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I have a similar vacation plan. I also bank my hours for when I really need them though am sometimes forced to used days unless I want to take a pay cut ( like when the office closes during Christmas/New years, im only paid for 3 of the 6 days that we’re closed). I usually prefer long weekends to block weeks off anyway unless travelling 🙂
I’ve accumulated this time over 10 years and I am so happy to have now that I’m burning out!! I haven’t gotten to the point where I’m being asked to use my time yet. I’m also salaried so works out nicely in terms of days of etc. I get paid the same every month regardless. I love long weekends and I really rock the ones that are connected to bank holidays.
I’m so jealous of your vacation time! Even when I’m slow with work, it’s not a vacation at all because then I’m stressed about not working. Grrr! Enjoy your time off!
You know, I love the vacation time but…it took YEARS to accumulate this and now I’m exhausted. I’m looking forward to making the transition to freelancing because my big issue has become location independent work. I hate commuting, I hate offices, and I have spent enough of my life inside four walls. I don’t mind working hard-but, if I had to work in Colombia while studying Spanish, I would struggle with it but find some way to rally 🙂
Working for the state or town really does have its benefits. My mom worked for the town for 8 years and had five weeks off a year, plus some “green days” that she used to take three day weekends. I don’t think all of it rolls over, but that’s still way more than most people get. I think the time accumulates similarly. My mom took one actual vacation away for two weeks, and stayed home to relax or focus on housework the other three. I like taking vacation around a time when you’re already off so you don’t have to use as many days. Enjoy your vacation!
Now I’m getting A LOT of time off. But, it took a long time for me to use it wisely and to feel comfortable using my time. I take vacation time pretty consistently every year now. I do try to really be smart about it and take advantage of 3 day weekends that I can have without using my time. This year I have Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a 3 day weekend in March, May (Memorial Day), July 4th Weekend, Labor Day, and a 4 day weekend for Thanksgiving. For Christmas I need to take one day=6 days off in a row. I haven’t even taken vacation time yet!! This year I’m really focused on accumulating time so that I can go on a HUGE vacation in 2015.