I do.

Sick, isn't it? But here's the deal. As a working mom I need to make sure that my kids are taken care of during the summer so that I can continue to make a living.

They are too old for day care and yet, too young to leave for 12 weeks without some structure to their day. Much to their dismay.

But for me, vacation planning goes far beyond summer vacation.

As an employee you are given "x" number of days/weeks of vacation time and I ask you - how many times do you come to the end of the year and realize that you have two weeks to take and no time to take it and your company doesn't allow you to roll your unused time into the next year.

How does that make you feel?

Here you have given your all, working over time, sweating out month-end, coming in early, working through your lunch - you are entitled to that time off - gosh darn it.

So whose fault is it that you didn't take your time allotted?

YOURS.

I know that is hard to hear but here is what I propose - it's been working for me for over 15 years.

At the beginning of the year (in your company that may be January or it may be your hire date) I take an hour and plan out my days off for the entire year. Here's why:

1. If I plan it, I'll take it.
2. It is a wonderful hour of day dreaming of places I'll go, people I'll visit and things I'll experience and accomplish - even if the plan is just to clean the closets.
3. It builds my morale and gives me something to look forward to.
4. When you take regular time off work it rest your brain and allows your creative juices to be rekindled.
5. The company WILL survive without you!
6. You can always change your mind, but if you don't put in on the calendar for you AND your boss to be aware of - you'll come up against the end of the year and lost vacation days that were yours for the taking.

It's not too late. Take a moment right now and plan out when you'll take the rest of your vacation days this year. I guarantee it will put a smile on your face!

Check out this article on 14 Ways to De-stress Employee Vacations