Mar 27 2025 42 mins
What does it take for you to finally say "no" to work during your vacation? We dive deep into the complex relationship between professional dedication and personal time off through Amy's recent experience of cutting a getaway short for a real estate showing.
The statistics are startling—40% of American employees don't use all their allotted vacation days, with the highest numbers among those with bachelor's degrees and upper income brackets. We explore why so many of us struggle to disconnect, examining everything from workplace expectations to our own psychological need for achievement and recognition.
While generational differences exist in approaches to work-life balance, the data challenges some common assumptions. Only 21% of Millennials take their full vacation allotment despite being portrayed as more boundary-conscious than their predecessors. We discuss the psychology behind "unlimited PTO" policies and why they often result in employees taking less time off.
The conversation takes a poignant turn when we share personal regrets about work-life choices, particularly regarding time with our children. When Amy reveals her mother passed away with 186 unused vacation days and unfulfilled dreams, it drives home the reality that time eventually runs out for everyone.
Whether you're wrestling with work-life boundaries, curious about generational workplace differences, or simply need permission to use your vacation days, this episode offers both practical insights and emotional validation. After all, as we remind ourselves, most jobs aren't "selling kidneys"—the world will keep turning if we take a day off.
Amy, Kitty & Stacey
P.S. Isn't our intro music great?! Yah, we think so too. Thank you, Ivy States for "I Got That Wow".