Cutting loose from work for a little vacation this summer is not something you’ll regret — ever

What a difference a mere 23.4 degrees makes. That’s what astronomers call‘the obliquity of the ecliptic’ – in other words, the tilt of the Earth’s axis relative to the Sun – and it’s that difference that gives us our seasons. It’s the peak of summer in the northern hemisphere right now because we’re tilted 23-something degrees toward old Sol. The daylight hours are longer, temperatures rise and school children are freed from their studies and heading for the pool – all because of the tilt of the Earth.

This particular time in our planet’s cycle of life just lends itself to a change of pace. Maybe it’s seeking an ocean front respite from the rising heat; perhaps it’s the lush lawns and the aroma of barbecue smoke; or it could be simply that summer is just an easier time to travel, to be someplace else and do something different. Whatever the motivation, summer is a hallowed time when Americans are supposed to clear the desk, turn off the cell phone and strike out for a week or two to parts unknown. I say‘supposed’because it turns out not all of us do that. In fact, many of us don’t even come close.

According to a study by Expedia.com, US workers left about 500 million unused vacation days on the table at the end of last year. That translates to a $224 billion liability in accumulated paid time off sitting on the balance sheets of American businesses, according to a separate analysis conducted by Oxford Economics. It seems some of us perceive unused vacation days as a sort of‘badge of honor,’the sign that we are loyal and hard-working employees.

Well, heads up, employees:Your unused vacation isn’t just a liability on your company’s books – it’s a personal debt you’re going to owe yourself in years to come. At least those are the findings of a survey of some 2,000 Baby Boomers conducted by Censuswide on behalf of British Airways. The study found that many Boomers regret missing out on things.

Like travel, for instance. Looking back, one in five said that among their biggest regrets is not traveling enough. Another study by Cornell University professor Karl Pillemer produced similar results.“To sum up what I learned in a sentence,”Professor Pillemer writes,“When your traveling days are over, you will wish you had taken one more trip.”

Those of us who travel to make a living are doubly blessed; not only do we have work to do, but we get go different places to do it. Some of you may argue that you’ve got too much of a good thing – that you could use a few less days on the road. Point taken. But the fact is, for most of us, travel gives us more opportunities to widen our world view than we could ever find relegated to the cubicle farm.

Which brings me back to the subject of unused time. As business travelers we have the opportunity to make every trip an event. But if we limit our journeys to a constant cycle of airport-meeting-hotel room-airport, we really haven’t accomplished much either. What travel needs in order to be meaningful is experience. Otherwise, it’s just being there.

So as the Earth tilts on its axis toward the Sun, think about making your travel lean a little bit too. Do some research, ask your fellow travelers, tweet family and friends for new destination ideas, and explore the pages of Business Traveler. Each issue is a treasure trove of experiences to enrich your journey.

No matter where – or when – you go. BT — Dan Booth Editorial Director