This is your sign to book a day off.

The algorithm has finally figured me out, and shows me near-exclusively 3 types of videos: Wedding dresses, dogs with babies, and Switzerland travel inspo. What this probably tells you is: I’m getting married, I really want a dog, and I googled “places to go in Zurich” a few weeks ago.

TikTok and Instagram make it easy for us to see so many perfectly-dressed humans taking vacations.

And yes, while watching them live their best (curated) lives, it is VERY tempting to check our balance of unused vacation days, look up plane ticket prices, and start an ambitious trip checklist.

I love a “5 Views You Need to See in Switzerland” reel as much as the next person, and I do save them for the next time I’m planning to travel.

But consuming a lot of this content also makes it easy to trick ourselves into thinking the best way to recharge is by leaving our regularly scheduled lives. 

We think: All we need is some fresh mountain air, or seaside sunshine, or that perfect bowl of pasta at sunset, and all will be right as rain.

Truly, though: The best time off you can take for yourself might not involve any travel at all. 

Let’s think about time off as any and all types of time away from work. Not just those where you skip time zones.