I always look forward to taking my vacation every year. My company gives 4 weeks to someone at my level and I make sure that I use every single day allotted. This time is so important to me and my family since it is a chance to spend uninterrupted time together, relax and just have some fun without the pressures of everyday life.

I happened upon a very interesting statistic in a news paper the other day. The report claimed that there were a significant number of workers in the U.S. who do not take all of their available vacation days. Frankly, I was stunned by the report. I mean, who does not like having a vacation even if it is just sitting in your own backyard? Reading further in the report revealed a lot of the reasons behind this phenomenon.

So many people are worried about their financial security and employment that they feel they cannot risk taking the time off. They are often under pressure to produce more for their employers and taking so much vacation is not viewed as being fully committed to the cause.

While I certainly can understand these and underlying reasons, I can offer some advice to people feeling this way. Simply put, life is too short and fragile to live in fear and not enjoy yourself. You may think that extra face time at work is going to pay off. In some cases it will, but at the cost of your own health and well being.

We all need time to unwind and get away from it all as they say and denying yourself that opportunity out of some misplaced sense of loyalty is just wrong. I can also tell you that when push comes to shove, your employer will have no problem laying off even the most dedicated employees.

So starting today, stop worrying and commit yourself to getting the most out of life. Go ahead - use all of your available vacation and do not feel guilty for doing so. In the long run, you will be happy you did.

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If a vacation is in your future, please visit our TRAVEL BLOG for useful tips and information. The author is the owner and creator of the popular KNOWLEDGE BASE BLOG which contains hundreds of useful tips for your everyday life. Our motto is Live, Learn & Improve Your Quality of Life Today. http://theknowledgebase1.blogspot.com/