A recent survey on how many Americans actually use their paid vacation days shows that only 38 percent use all of those days. In 2018, over 650 million vacation days were unused. Such a huge number is a matter of concern especially that there’s a strong connection between the times you take days off for vacation and the state of your mental health. 

It’s easy to understand why a lot of individuals have been skipping out on their paid vacation days. Vacations can be quite expensive and for some, it’s just impractical. Nevertheless, experts say that people should take time off from their daily stressors at work. It is essential when it comes to one’s mental health.

When you take a break from your work, it is important that you maintain your overall well-being. If you are constantly exposed to the stress of work, it is unavoidable that you will suffer negative consequences both on your body and mind. 

Taking a vacation will help your body in lowering cortisol levels. When this happens, then stress is reduced and your mental health improves. Vacations also help in replenishing your ability to have creative thoughts. You can daydream all you want and just think of anything that you want to think about. 

Another valuable thing that you’ll get during vacation is sleep. Ample sleep is valuable to your mental health. If you sleep well, you will also feel more energized. It means that you will have both the time and the energy for exercise and other physical activities that you may not have tried before. 

Statistics show that on average, Americans take 2 “mental health days” annually. But a couple of days away from stressors may not be sufficient for most individuals to be able to fully recharge. This is especially true when the vacation time is spent on accommodating other stressors such as chores and other responsibilities at home or with family. 

Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean that you need to stay somewhere luxurious or spend money you don’t have for a two-week vacation. A good kind of break is something that just takes you away from your usual routine. It doesn’t have to be expensive. There are plenty of domestic destinations you can go to that can help your mind and body relax. 

Staycations are also a thing these days. You can simply stay at home, sleep, read, or watch movies. It’s not necessary to have a change of scenery. All you need is to be able to disconnect from your daily routine. Taking several days to relax will be helpful for everyone. However, you should remind yourself that you should relax and not take on other stressors during that time. 

When you decide to stay at home for your paid vacation days, do not get stressed over the chores or errands. If you like to garden or do some DIY projects, that’s fine. But don’t stress over it. Once any activity becomes too demanding, remind yourself why you’re on vacation leave. Take the time to relax so your body and especially your mind can relax. 

Summer is here folks and that means one thing, you are due for a vacation. Hopefully, you have already narrowed down your destination and now it’s time to pick accommodations. With the advent of home-sharing websites like Airbnb and VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner), we all have so many more choices of where to stay. Its no longer picking out the best hotel, now it’s choosing the best accommodations for you and what you want out of your vacation.

From castles to unique studio apartments all the way to shared group rooms, these home-sharing sites offer more variety than ever before. All this variety can actually be a nuisance, making planning a vacation that much harder. Does Airbnb offer the same experience; safety and cleanliness that you are guaranteed form a 5-star hotel? Let’s explore the major differences between Airbnb and hotels and see which one fits your needs the best.

Experience

Hotels are often sterile and similar no matter where you travel to so if the experience is what you crave, Airbnb may be better for you. These home-sharing sites offer unique experiences that hotels just can’t. Imagine staying in a castle vs a hotel, which one sounds more enticing?

I enjoy staying at both and I think it all depends on what kind of vacation you want. If you are looking for cookie cutter amenities, brochures in the lobby of local attractions and free shuttle transports, then hotels are obviously your choice. However, if you need more personal touches, handwritten notes form your host and some of the most interesting accommodations, then Airbnb is for you.

Quality

Quality usually varies depending on price and location. Hotels can range from fleabags to ultra luxury and it all depends on how much you are willing to fork over. Same goes for Airbnb, that’s what makes choosing so hard. If you want quality, you will have to pay for it.

To alleviate the problem of quality variation, do your research. Check out recent reviews of both the local hotels and local Airbnbs, this should give you a great reading of the quality levels.

Price

Price ranges can vary and both hotels and Airbnb can be affordable. I personally have found incredible Airbnbs for less than a $100 a night and I can’t really say that about hotels. Airbnb may seem cheaper at first but many times they have hidden fees like cleaning fees and of course Airbnb’s service charge, which is usually $15 per night. Your best bet is to research around and find a few options and chose between them.

Safety

Safety is many people’s number one concern and I totally understand that. Airbnb doesn’t have to adhere to the strict health guidelines of hotels so that is something to think about. That’s why reading the recent reviews is so important, seeing others experiences can tell you a lot. Airbnb actually processes all transactions 24 hours after your stay there, just in case anything happens, so that’s good.

Hotels are generally considered safer but that only applies to the larger chains.

Choosing between an Airbnb and a hotel really comes down to personal preference. The key is to do your research and figure out which is best for you and your family. Happy vacation planning and hope you find the perfect accommodations.

Traveling with your pooch can seem impossible, but if you do it right it’s a whole lot of fun. You may not think that your dog wants to be cooped up in a car all day long, but they’d rather be with you than anywhere else in the whole wide world.

You could drop them off in a park made of dog treats and tennis balls and fifteen minutes later they’d be yelping and barking just begging to get back with their owner. If you were in a cardboard box, your dog would want to sit on your lap. Dogs love their owners so much that taking them on a road trip with you can make your dog happy and make your trip more exciting.

But before you let your dog hop in the car and take off make sure you have an indestructible dog create pad so prevent accidents. Let’s dive in to these great tips on how to comfortably take your dog on a road trip.

VISIT THE VET FIRST

You want to make sure that your dog is up-to-date on its vaccines and flea medication so you don’t have to worry about your woofer getting infected by rabies or fleas hopping around your car biting all your passengers. Dogs love adventure and when you’re on the road you may not be sure of what type of adventure your dog gets into. It’s best to be prepared for anything and the easiest way to do that is to make sure your dog is up to date on its medications.

MAKE THEM LOVE THE CAR

If you don’t drive your dog around in the car often then take some time to get it used to traveling in the car. Drive your pooch to the dog park or around the neighborhood. You don’t even have to drive, you can just play with them in your car without driving. Get them used to being in the car and having fun while inside of it. When you’re done in the car hook your pooch up with a treat and pretty soon it will love the car almost as much as it loves you.

KEEP THEM SAFE

Keep your pup safe by keeping it in the back seat of your car in a harness or a carrier of some kind. Keeping your pet safe means that you will be able to focus on the road without the risk of a giant dog hopping into your lap. Dogs hanging their heads out of a car window catching air in its mouth may look cute, but it’s just not worth the risk. Keeping your dog in a harness or carrier is the best way to travel with your dog.

CHIPS & TAGS

You are going to need to make sure that your chip is up to date as well as get some new tags with your name and number. You want to be prepared for the worst, in case the unthinkable happens and your beloved pup takes off. If you are staying at a friend or family member’s house then maybe think about putting their address on the tag as well for an added level of security.

Your pup will love spending some quality vacation time with you and it will sure make your road trip a memorable one.