Demand more of it. Unless you’re a French or German worker, I can guarantee you’re not getting enough vacation time from your employer.

Because two weeks is bullshit.

Unless you’re in your very first job, where you really don’t have a lot of leverage, there is no excuse for accepting such an inhumane amount of time off. When I’m traveling in other countries, people literally choke whenever I tell them that two weeks off is standard in the U.S. How can we survive, they ask? How indeed.

Next time you’re negotiating a new job, or even a review at your current job, play hardball when it comes to vacation. Giving you more time off doesn’t really cost an employer that much. And no one’s going to miss you for an extra week off. Yet one extra week off can make a huge difference for you and your yearly adventure possibilities. Don’t let the HR lady fool you: there IS wiggle room, regardless of your title (I have proven this time and again when negotiating staff jobs).

Here’s one of my favorite commentators, Bill Maher, ranting perfectly about Americans’ outrageous lack of vacationing:

Oh, and if it isn’t obvious to you: the idea is to TAKE the vacation time you have. Nothing is more tragic than people not using all of their vacation days.