Summer Strategies to Recharge Your Batteries
By Brian Padian, Senior Vice President of Sales
Not everyone has the luxury to take off during summer. Let’s face it, with schedules at work and at home more demanding and often in conflict with even a quick getaway, fewer Americans are opting for summer vacations this year. And that’s pretty sad news. Data from Skift reveals that about 62 percent of Americans surveyed said they would not take a vacation this year—at all. Out of those, more than half said they can’t afford it, 23 percent said they’ll only take short breaks on weekends and just 16 percent said they’re planning a long holiday.
With statistics like those, you’d think Americans were afraid of vacations. Turns out many of them are—and here’s why:
In a recent article published by the Boston Globe, Dr. David Ballard, director of the American Psychological Association’s Center for Organizational Excellence, stated that lots of employees feel their company’s culture frowns on taking time off. “The US was founded on a strong work ethic,” he says. “We often put our own balance and well-being aside and cave into that feeling of wanting to be productive and needing to perform.” That sentiment is echoed by many, including Katie Denis, senior program director of a travel industry-funded organization called Project: Time Off. Her research indicates that the number one thing people are worried about is work piling up while they’re away.
Other worker’s surveyed cited reasons from feeling no one could do their job better to believing that taking time off could get in the way of a promotion.
Technology certainly has played a large part in how Americans work in the 21st Century and smart phones—now used by nearly 70 percent of the American population—are a significant factor. According to a Pew Research Center study, about half (46percent) of smartphone owners say they cannot live without them while a vast majority use theirs for internet, social networking, taking photos or videos, and access to news. A vast majority use their phones for texting, phoning and facetiming and more than half rely on cell phones to get or relay information regarding life events, health conditions and job changes.
Though advancing technology is undoubtedly part of the problem, it is undoubtedly also part of the solution. New technology like portable power banks and chargers allow people to untether while still staying in the loop, remaining fully accessible! So perhaps instead of lamenting about the loss of the good old-fashioned American summer vacation, those with no time to spare should focus on ways to increase leisure, slowing down a bit instead of taking off.
Here are a few simple strategies to recharge your batteries:
1.) Work remotely. Take your cell phone, laptop or tablet far from the maddening crowds and work among an environment that’s calming yet energizing. Don’t forget to pack a portable charger! With Logomark’s large selection of premium power banks, you’ll have battery power that lasts all day!
2.) Reward yourself with the spa treatment at home. Pick up a compact spa kit that includes everything you’ll need to soak and scrub away the stresses of the day. It’ll cost a fraction of a trip to a spa with the potential to do just as much good.
3.) Grab a pen and start handwriting again. Reach out to old friends and catch up with long-distance family. Or just take time to start a journal and plan your future. There’s strong evidence that suggests writing by hand helps to activated massive regions in the brain involved in thinking, language and working memory. It’s also a great way to increase the chances for making your dreams come true! In the best seller, Write It Down, Make It Happen, Dr. Henriette Anne Klauser combines practical tips with inspiring stories to build a case for the power of putting your desires on paper.
4.) Spend more time in the great outdoors. Take advantage of the warm, longer days and balmy nights and dine outdoors—at home. Mini-splurge on fun, new and inexpensive drink ware. Picnic in a park during lunch hour or grab a backpack and take a weekend hike or a ride on a bike.
5.) Let your favorite music carry you away. Take time to listen to your favorite tunes, whether you’re on a short break, a bike or taking a long walk at the end of the day. It’ll make you feel better—even lessen the sting of skipping another vacation.
Problem: Americans are overworked, overstressed and are avoiding summer vacations primarily for fear of loss in productivity, money and future employment potential.
Solution: Untether without losing touch. Power up with simple solutions to relax at home, enjoy the outdoors and stay connected—no matter where you go.
About Logomark: Founded in 1993, Logomark is a premier supplier of personalized gift and promotional products for the North American and global advertising specialty market. The company is a certified member of the Quality Certification Alliance, ensuring standards that deliver the highest levels of product safety. Providing more than 3,000 top-quality products in diverse categories, Logomark persistently reinvents the promotional products industry exceptional product selections, innovative solutions and unequaled customer support. Logomark features a complete line of products, an easy-to-use mobile app, and an award-winning website. For more information on the company’s broad line of quality promotional products, please call 800-789-4438 or visit www.logomark.com.