Rest & Recovery
With year-end closing, and tax season wrapping up in just a few short months, it’s time to start planning your post-busy season escape.
By Bridget McCrea | Winter 2017
For more than 15 years, American vacation time was drifting in a
downward spiral. For those in accounting and finance professions, some
would argue it has been even longer. Our always-on work culture is a
challenge in itself. But, let’s face it, year-end and tax season are
historically even more grueling times for everyone in the tax,
accounting, and finance spaces. That’s why “taking the time to clear
your head, destress, and recharge afterwards will help you excel at your
job and find better balance in your own personal life,” says Jeramy
Kaiman, vice president of executive search firm Parker + Lynch.
Kaiman, who is deeply in tune with staff and executives in the
accounting and finance industry, says more of these professionals are
getting better about “taking off” after their busy seasons to rest and
recharge away from their home bases, especially during the months of
May, June, and July. “Given the sheer number of hours and commitments
that they’ve had up until that point of the year, taking time off has
become the norm,” he adds. “And in many cases that time off involves
travel and getting out and experiencing the world firsthand.”
Millennials, for instance, are spending more of their discretionary
income on travel than their predecessors, enjoying “sensible” trips that
germinate from budget travel websites and platforms like Airbnb.
Internet Marketing Inc.’s numbers tell the story: 86 percent of millennials
travel to experience a new culture; 85 percent check multiple sites
before booking to get the best deal; 75 percent wish to travel abroad as
much as possible; and millennials enjoy last-minute trips to satisfy
“sudden wanderlust.”
But couldn’t we all benefits from some newfound post-busy season
wanderlust? Research says, “Yes.”
So, we’re here to remind you to take some time off.
WHY WE NEED
VACATIONS
“American workers hold fast to the belief that the path to career
success requires sacrificing vacation and embracing work
martyrdom,” states Project: Time Off’s survey and report, “The State
of the American Vacation 2017.” “But the data is unmistakably
clear: planning for and taking time off benefits individual
wellbeing and professional success, business performance, and the
broader economy.”
Kaiman adds that low-tech or tech-free vacations have immediate
and tangible perks and benefits, including stress reduction,
improved concentration, better mental clarity, and improved health,
to name just a few.
And since we’re all numbers people, we’d like to point out that
vacation time also has overlooked costs—to you. In 2016, Project:
Time Off reveals that the average amount of vacation days earned
by employees increased to 22.6 days. But, the average American
worker uses less than 17 vacation days per year. That means roughly
662 million vacation days were left on the table last year. “By
forfeiting vacation days, American workers gave up $66.4 billion
in 2016 benefits alone,” Project: Time Off says. “That means that
last year employees effectively donated an average of $604 in work
time to their employer. America’s work culture has a long way to
go to rewire its thinking.”
THE
PERFECT
PLAN
Here’s a thought: “After a stressful busy season, my top
recommendation is an all-inclusive vacation to the Caribbean or
another sunny, warm place,” says Roshni Agarwal, CPA, co-founder
of the travel planning company The Vacation Hunt.
A major advocate of post-busy season vacations for weary
accountants, Agarwal adds that such packages are pretty
straightforward to book online, which means “CPAs don’t have
to take the time to plan an elaborate trip right in the middle of
their busy seasons.”
Agarwal points to late spring as a great time to get away too,
because it's after the peak holiday travel and tourist seasons. And
the further out you plan, the better deals, flights, and hotel
availability you’re going to find, she adds—and the more likely you
are to actually take that time off.
“The most effective remedy for American workers who want to use
more vacation days is better planning,” Project: Time Off says. “A
majority (52 percent) of workers who say they set aside time each
year to plan out their vacation days take all their time off, compared
to just 40 percent of non-planners. The benefits of planning extend
beyond the days spent away from the office. Planners are happier
than non-planners in every category measured. Planners report they
are ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ happy with their relationships, health and
well-being, company, and job.”
“Start by sitting down and figuring out some dates that will work
with your schedule,” Agarwal says. “Next, consider exactly what
you’d like to do during your time off. Do you want a relaxing beach
getaway, an ‘active’ vacation that involves hiking and adventure, or
one that incorporates that destination half-marathon that you’ve
wanted to do? Whatever your preference, find a place that
incorporates these ‘wants’ while also allowing you to destress.”
And, while you’re trying to get away from the numbers for a bit,
Agarwal reminds to factor your budget into the equation. The good
news is that there is a mix of in-state, out-of-state, and far-off travel
options that can accommodate any taste or preference. “Everyone
loves Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, especially during the summer
months,” Agarwal says, “but there are also more exotic things you
can be doing depending on your budget and goals.”
As a lifestyle writer for Travel + Leisure and a regular on-air CBS
contributor, Jeanette Zinno travels a lot for work and understands
the need to “get away” and destress. For accounting and finance
pros looking for the light at the end of the busy season tunnel,
Zinno says one of her top tips is to pick a destination that has no
cell service—or at least a hotel with a “digital detox concierge.”
Hotels like the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne in Miami and the Grand
Velas Riviera Nayarit in Mexico use clever strategies—like curated,
non-digital itineraries and removing TVs from rooms—to help
guests wean themselves off phones, tablets, laptops, and other
electronics. “This is a great way to totally disconnect after a long
work season that doesn’t allow you to leave your phone for a
minute because a client may call,” Zinno says.
Of course, using technology ahead of your trip can still be helpful.
Zinno suggests tech-savvy travelers could explore some mobile
apps to help plan the perfect getaway. For example, Chatnbook
allows you to enter a destination to be presented with hotel choices
to “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” as you browse the options, while
TripHappy helps you pick specific areas and neighborhoods to stay
in. “This app is best for someone who is going to Paris, for example,
and wants to find a chic area to stay in that’s close enough to great
restaurants, but far enough for a quiet escape,” Zinno says.
Your time away from work doesn’t have to conform to the
traditional idea of a “vacation” either. Wellness getaways are very
popular all around the world. Bookyogaretreats.com, for example,
helps users find the best possible destinations that meet their needs.
“If you’re not into yoga, try a destination like Canyon Ranch,” Zinno
advises. “It’s a luxury all-inclusive resort and spa with destinations
around the country.”
Finally, don’t overlook the staycation. “It may not be the most
glamorous option, especially if you have a beach cabana in mind,
but think of how many amazing things there are in your city or
close by that you’ve never seen,” Zinno says. “From museums to
sightseeing, to shows to restaurants, there are plenty of things
you’ve been too busy to do over the last few months.”
At the end of the day, Zinno says picking the right R&R spot
depends on what you’re searching for and how you want to spend
your time. “And if you can’t decide on where to visit,” she adds, “I
recommend writing your top three destinations on a piece of paper
and picking one out of a hat.”
Three Overlooked Escapes
The Caldwell House
Every year, The Caldwell House Bed & Breakfast in New York’s
Hudson Valley puts together a special travel deal for tax
preparers: Stay one night at this country inn and get a second
night free in April. The stay includes complimentary three-course
breakfasts each morning, bottomless snacks, complimentary
parking, and free Wi-Fi. “Plan ahead and you can add on a
massage to help with stiff calculator neck and carpel tunnel,”
quips Maria Coder of Bed & Brunch PR.
The Big Easy
As much of the country is still emerging from the cold, New
Orleans is just reaching its ideal season. Even better, New
Orleans is affordable to the point of downright cheap. Because
New Orleans is such a destination for food, nightlife, and
festivals, it’s easy to get an amazing experience. At the end of
April, New Orleans celebrates both the French Quarter Festival
and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. “With a flight time
of just over two hours from Chicago,” says Sam Olmsted of La
Galerie Hotel, “New Orleans is a great destination even for a
weekend trip.”
A Jamaican Jaunt
Tensing Pen offers a tropical sanctuary where you can truly be
alone and intimately celebrate the end of a busy season. Hugging
the turquoise waters of Negril, Tensing Pen is much different from
most touristy Jamaican hotels with large pools, crowded lobbies,
and hundreds of rooms. “Instead, guests may peacefully recharge
in a secluded paradise with breathtaking views after feeling
drained from months of interacting with clients and crunching
numbers,” says spokesperson Maggie Sullivan. Accommodations
include private bungalows and cottages, and rooms without
phones or televisions, giving guests an opportunity to disconnect
from technology and reconnect to leisure.