02/06/2026
Who needs a vacation?
You may wonder how you can tell if you really need a vacation. Well, I am happy to create a helpful checklist so you can determine how much you really need a vacation. Now you can see how many of the 13 signs you need a vacation applies to you.
1. Are your co-workers out to get you?
When you get to work, do your co-workers expect unreasonable things out of you? Do they expect you to do activities such as:
•Answer the phone when it rings.
•Respond to emails in a timely fashion.
•Stay awake while at your desk.
•Limit your personal calls to under an hour each day.
•Speak when asked a question.
•Put some clothes on before going to work.
•Not threatening fellow co-workers with violence.
Seriously, what is up with this? Co-workers actually expect you to work while at work? If you are getting upset about this and believe your co-workers are plotting against you because of it, you certainly are experiencing one of the signs that you need a vacation.
2. Are you sleeping in the livingroom for a change of scenery?
Have you been sleeping in the livingroom or guest room to get that "staying at a motel/hotel" feeling? Sure, the couch might fold out or maybe you have a futon, but why are you sleeping on that if you have a bed? Did you really just put tiny soaps and shampoos in the bathroom, as well? My friend, your home is not the Holiday Inn. You are having some serious vacation withdrawal symptoms.
3. Do you go to your friend's pool and pretend you are at a resort?
If you are visiting people and using their pool, that is totally normal. If you are pretending to be on vacation when doing so, you should be concerned. Do you take photos and tell people you are a resort? You do realize being delusional is not a good sign, correct?
4. Do you get on the kiddie rides at Walmart?
Have you been riding the kiddie rides at Walmart? Are you over 14 years old? Were you pretending you were at Six Flags? Oh dear. That is not very healthy.
First of all, you are scaring young children. Second, the kiddie rides at Walmart will never replace the experience of really going to Six Flags. Maybe it is time to consider scraping enough money together to go to a real amusement park.
5. Do you find yourself going through old vacation photo albums?
Have you been looking at past vacation photos? Have you shed a tear or two? Even worse, are you starting to pretend you are at those places again? Do you find yourself looking for the same beach towel or bathing suit in one of those photos and using them for "old time's sake?" This is just not a good situation.
6. Have you gone to a local pond and pretended you were in the Bahamas?
If you are going to any location with some water and pretending you are on a magical vacation journey, you are starting to have some serious issues. Are you imagining you are in the Bahamas?
Going fishing with your friends at the local pond is certainly not the same as going on a real vacation. Try to enjoy your time with the guys, but if not, maybe it is time for a vacation.
7. Are you having nightmares about work?
Are you starting to have nightmares about the copier at work not just eating your document, but eating you? Do you see it chasing you down the hall until it lifts its lid and gobbles you whole? Or perhaps you have been having a nightmare about your computer coming to life, and telling you how it is replacing you and you will never work again?
No matter what type of nightmares you are having about work, the result is the same: you are under way too much stress at work. If you continue to have nightmares about work, you need a break and you need it now. Even if you can only afford to go to a local park, take a couple of days off and do it now.
8. Do you post angry messages under your friends' vacation photos on Facebook?
Jealousy is a really ugly emotion and no one wants to read your spiteful comment under their happy beach pic. So if you are starting to post angry messages under your friends' vacation photos on Facebook, you should be concerned. Do you wish there was an "unlike" button just for that type of photo? You have even bigger problems!
9. Have you been watching National Lampoon's Vacation and Weekend at Bernie's too much lately?
If you've been watching wacky vacation movies too much lately, you might just need a vacation, too. If you have been inspired by Weekend at Bernie's or National Lampoon's Vacation, then you have bigger problems. Please do not find a dead body and strap it to the roof of a car or put it in a boat. There are laws against that type of thing - seek help!
10. Have you started answering your phone by saying, "Who's bothering me now?"
Clearly, if you are answering your phone and indicating anyone calling you at all is a nuisance, you've had enough. This can happen to anyone when they are under too much stress. Have you started answering the phone at work the same way? You might want to take a day off now before your employer permanently gives you plenty of days off.
11. Are you constantly wearing Hawaiian shirts?
Have you started wearing Hawaiian shirts lately? Do you wear Hawaiian leis, too? When people come to visit, do you put a lei around their neck and welcome them to Hawaii? Have you started wearing sunblock all the time even when not leaving your home? Uh-oh! You need a beach vacation and you need it now!
Sure, most of us can't afford a Hawaiian vacation in this economy, but don't let that stop you from going to the beach. Find the closest beach and get there now. I'll bet you could even get away with wearing the Hawaiian shirt. Just don't go around passing around leis to people; that is too much.
12. Does your out-of-office email response state, "Out of office due to pretend vacation" and you never left work?
You are beginning to scare people now. Never post an out-of-office response without actually being out of the office. Your co-workers are starting to talk about you. You might just find yourself going on a vacation very soon, but it will be to a nice padded cell somewhere.
13. Have you started decorating your entire home with palm trees?
Are you decorating everything with a beach theme? Did you start buying palm trees? Do you have pink flamingos decorating the yard? Did you set up a kiddie pool in the middle of your living room?
Clearly, you may want to visit Florida soon. It never hurts to price that trip to Florida and start thinking about if it is possible to go.
