My husband and I have been extremely fortunate this year in that we’ve had the opportunity to go on two vacations since December.  We journeyed to Mexico in December and Israel in March, and both trips were extraordinary.  We took a different approach with each trip and learned a lot about how to take a proper vacation.

When we went to Mexico we were gone for a week.  My husband took his laptop and cell phone with him and spent about an hour every night responding to emails, checking voicemails, and keeping current with his industry.  I, not having a laptop and loathing my cell phone, took only a handful of good books and some sunscreen.  Guess who felt more relaxed at the end of the trip?

Our trip to Israel was a different story.  We stayed in a different city every night for two weeks and it would have been foolish to lug a laptop to every place we went.  In order to prevent chaos, my husband enlisted a colleague to mind his business and we left our cell phones and laptop at home.  It was the best trip either of us has ever taken.  We had a staggering number of emails and voicemails to attend to when we went home, but we enjoyed our trip so much that the extra work on coming home didn’t really bother us.

The reason I bring all this up is that an article in the NY Times brought to my attention the sad fact that, in an annual survey conducted by the Conference Board, the number of people who said they would be going on a vacation in the near future was at a 30-year low.  Only 39% of people said they were planning to take a trip, while in the year 2000 49% of people were planning to get away.

Why is this important?  It’s important because vacations are good for you personally and professionally.  Job burnout is a very real risk among those who do not take the time to get away, and the stresses of everyday life can take a heavy toll on your interpersonal relationships.  Getting away from your routine for a short while can give you the ability to unwind, refocus, and come back refreshed.

In this uncertain economy it may seem like a risk to take a vacation.  Vacations cost money, which many of us are finding is in shorter supply, and make us leave work for a while, which can be a scary thing to do in a time when few jobs are truly safe.

These reasons may seem like a good argument against taking a vacation but they are just as good an argument for taking a trip.  Life is full of stress right now and this stress will eventually manifest itself physically and interpersonally.  If there was ever a time to take care of your mental, physical, and relational health, it’s now.

In light of this, here are some tips to help you get ready to enjoy your vacation (even if it’s just in your backyard!):

• Just say no to electronics.  While it may be tempting to check your emails, listen to voicemails, or cruise the Internet, don’t do it.  If you don’t take a mental break from work you’re just shooting yourself in the foot because you’re making it harder for yourself to relax.  It may be hard to do at first, but stop worrying about work.  Trust me, those emails aren’t going anywhere!
• Prepare in advance.  In the weeks before you leave, get as much work done as you can so that your departure doesn’t have a disastrous effect on your work.  If you can, do work ahead of time and give it to a boss or colleague who can use it when it’s needed.  Not only will this make life easier for your co-workers, it will make it a lot easier for you to leave work truly behind because you’ll know that things are being taken care of at home.
• Know your limits.  Don’t plan an extravagant vacation when you can’t afford one just because I told you to go take a vacation.  Money is tight for a lot of people right now so it might be better for you to just use your vacation days at home.  Whether you’re visiting family, fixing up the house, or doing silly tourist stuff in your area, you’re still taking a break from your routine and taking time for yourself.

Have you been on a trip recently?  How did you prepare for it?  Do you have any tips that worked for you?