Here Are 7 Ways To Make The Most Of Your Company’s Vacation Policy

Experts say that the single best thing you can do to make sure you get the vacation time you deserve is to plan ahead. Sit down with a calendar and your travel wish list at the beginning of the year and literally block off time. If your vacation desires involve long flights, do your price research at the beginning of the year and request time off during a week or month when you know you’ll be able to find a good deal. Once your request is approved, book your flights.

When your company releases its annual calendar, put in time off requests for days surrounding public holidays. For example, if Thursday is a public holiday, request Friday off. That way you’ve one extra day off into a four-day break.

Also known as a workcation, this is when you’re out of the office but still sort of on the clock. It may mean answering business calls at the beach or taking a virtual meeting between hiking trips. This doesn’t work for everyone – for some people, a vacation isn’t a vacation unless everything work-related stays in the office. However, if you’re out of vacation days or feel like the stress of being totally disconnected from work might ruin your time away, talk to your manager about working from the road for a day or two.

Don’t feel discouraged if you can’t manage a two weeks away in Thailand. Do what works for you, even if that means a three-day weekend somewhere nearby. Pick a destination that you can reach in a few hours and pack as much (or as little) into your time away as you can. Sometimes, all you need is a few days in a new place to recharge your batteries.

Research shows that people feel more comfortable taking vacation days when coworkers and managers aren’t shy about sharing their time-off plans. Similarly, talk to your boss about how much vacation time they take in order to better gauge how they feel about you scheduling time off.

A staycation doesn’t necessarily mean settling into your sofa for a day-long Netflix binge. If you can only take one day off (and can’t seem to make it a Monday or Friday), consider planning a day of exploring your town or city as if you were actually vacationing there. Pick a new breakfast spot to try, take a tour, visit a museum, try that new restaurant. If you want to go all the way, check yourself into a local hotel the nights before and after your day off. Sure, it might seem like an unnecessary expense, but getting away from home for a few nights can make even one day feel like a mini holiday.

Don’t put off vacation because you want to seem dedicated to your job. Taking breaks can reinvigorate you and keep you from experiencing workplace burnout. Perhaps the best way to "hack" your company’s vacation policy is to use it to create a happier, healthier you.