The last two years have been, well, challenging. Most people are tired now. More likely, you are, too.

Now, and yet here we are - still living in an ever-evolving pandemic, wondering if our kitchen tables will become our schools and offices forever, and imagining when life will ever return to something like normal.

So, it's safe to say that we all need a vacation. - A real vacation without work.

But therein lies the problem: does a real vacation exist anymore? Observing my friends and colleagues made it hard to find a real vacation these days (without laptops, mobile phones, email, relaxation, enlargement, and work).

It is not a new idea to work during vacation: entrepreneurs and CEOs have done this for years.

You will be surprised, but according to the annual report of the US Travel Association, more than half of Americans do not use all their paid vacation days. So, working during vacation is progress from this perspective.

Advances in technology, especially with instant messaging and email tools, made the "work" right in our hands like never.

Even those hands are on the beach in Punta Cana. Even those hands try to forget about work for a few days. Even before the pandemic, the combination' work + vacation' called 'wokation' became common.

And then came COVID-19, and offices were closed. As a result, huge parts of the workforce suddenly became "remote" workers, at least for a while.

Employers have realized that we can do almost any job almost anywhere globally. Suddenly, the "work from anywhere," "work trips," and "bleisure" programs (an unfortunate term for a trip intended for both business and leisure) started as soon as it became safe to travel.

74% of Americans worked from home during the shutdown, according to a Harris survey conducted during the pandemic published by Axios.

Hotels and tourist boards have responded to the demand by creating unique service packages that have provided these workers with the necessary tools. So, people can successfully work remotely at their new destination. People walked and continued to walk. Hyatt has just extended its "Work from Hyatt" program — special packages designed to help people do their jobs at Hyatt hotels worldwide - until the end of 2022.

Let me be clear: I'm a big fan of many "work from anywhere" packages, and I love that so many people can combine work and personal travel. This is especially surprising for people who have probably never had such a chance before because their work forced them to sit at a desk all day.

We are humans and should care about our mental health. We must have a vacation, big or small when work is left behind.

Just imagine, if you want, that you wake up one morning while on vacation in Via Krupp, Capri. You drink a cup of coffee on your balcony and enjoy a stunning sight of the harsh landscape and sparkling water, which changes from bright turquoise to dark azure. You think how excellent your morning is today. This is it. That's all you think about.

When your phone vibrates, you don't worry that it's a message from your office. You even didn't think to wake up earlier to finish a report or update spreadsheets. You never feel that you have to skip your coffee to respond to emails. You're just enjoying the day at your leisure.

Look, I know that maybe it's not that simple. But also, perhaps it is.

Ultimately, if we are responsible for our own lives, can't we give up work when we have paid leave? We can shut down our laptops and divide our lives 'before' and 'after.' We can create a contingency plan with colleagues if something goes wrong that doesn't involve interrupting our time?

Can't we tell ourselves that we deserve a break, a good rest, and an opportunity to clear our minds of the problems, plans, and spreadsheets that will be waiting for us later?

Yes, yes, we can. And we have to do it.

Therefore, when the time comes to go on your next vacation, whether it's just around the corner or even further in the future, set a goal to say "no" to work.

Set a message outside the office and stick to it. Breathe, relax and enjoy. Work will always be around, but your vacation is temporary, and you deserve to enjoy every blissful moment.

Feel free to discuss options for your travel in 2022 with me.

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