We can’t begin a travel column without recognizing that many of you reading this have left unused vacation days on the table. In fact, the last reported number of unused vacation days remaining in the U.S. was 768 million, so you are not alone. Part of our personal mission is the hope that, one day, we will be a part of the change in our travel dialogue and culture—where we begin to view travel not as a luxury, but as an essential part of our health and well-being.
We encourage you to put those hard-earned vacay days to use. For us, travel is not about pretty pictures on Instagram; our enthusiasm for travel is rooted in the studies that show travel improves our productivity in the workplace. We return more creative, better problem-solvers and, in fact, take fewer sick days throughout the year.
In addition to travel’s effect on our work life, it also deepens our relationships with one another and creates lifelong memories. Remember, travel starts with courage—be willing to get out of your comfort zone. You also have to have courage to leave your desk—it’ll be okay. And imagine the mighty worker bee you’ll be when you get back, after a little inspiration, creativity and a renewed zest for work and life.
Mollie Krengel is the founder of adventure-based business Wild Bum. She shares travel tips and insights in this column, writing with husband Roy and globetrotting kids Liam, Ella and Rafi.
