Did you realize that, in an average 80-year life span, Americans will spend 13.2 years working and only 328 days socializing? It’s no wonder we are so overly stressed and so many of us are unhappy.
On average, employers give Americans 10 paid vacation days per year, however over 50% don’t even take those days off. Compare this to Finland where the average is 30 paid vacation days per year and you see why Finland has been voted the happiest country in the world 4 years in a row.
So, what is it that keeps Americans from taking the small allotment of time we get? Most of us are afraid we may be considered expendable at work. Either that or our workload is just too heavy and we feel we can’t take any time away. Some of us are held back by pets who need us, the stress of planning time to relax, concerns about safety (hello COVID), and the cost of taking a vacation.
Fortunately, there are solutions to all of these problems right under our noses. The US is a beautiful country with lots of nature to explore. Camping trips or simple day trips for hiking, kayaking, biking or other outdoor activities, are a great, inexpensive, stress-free option for the whole family, including pets.
Taking a week to unwind can be a lot simpler than you think.
