EDITOR’S LIFE ADVICE

LISA VAN DE GEYN Contributing editor

I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, but I could sure use a holiday. And according to a recent study by Expedia.ca, so can many Canadians. In fact, more than half of the Canucks surveyed identified themselves as “vacationdeprived.” The study says that although we get an average of 17 days off work each year, we use only 14. What gives? While some can’t afford to do anything with the time they’ve earned, others blame their schedules. (It’s likely that vacationing simply isn’t worth the stress for some folks.) The thing is, taking a break does wonders for your attitude and motivation. The key to making it as easy as possible, says Jamie Gruman, an associate professor of organizational behaviour at Ontario’s University of Guelph, is to “plan so you minimize stress while away: Schedule a flight outside of rush hour; book excursions before you leave home; and return a day early so you can catch up on laundry and grocery shopping.”

Try a Trend: Multigenerational Travel

Multigenerational vacationing is one of the top trends in travel, thanks in part to adults who are choosing to hit the road with their parents. G Adventures, a Toronto-based global adventuretravel company, for example, saw a 12 percent bump in families travelling with adult kids between 2015 and 2016. Claire Newell, the Vancouver-based author of Travel Best Bets: An Insider’s Guide to Taking the Best Trips Ever, says this spike—as well as the increase in kids, parents and grandparents taking trips together—can be attributed to baby boomers who have “time and money to travel with their children and grandchildren.” If a group getaway appeals to your crew, here’s how to ensure that your holiday is a hit. First, says Newell, talk about costs before booking to avoid awkward conversations when you’re away. Next, designate one family member as the “tour director” who plans and keeps everyone on schedule. Parents: Don’t assume Grandma and Grandpa are tagging along to babysit. And finally, feel free to take time apart. “It’s healthy to get away from the 24/7 family environment,” adds Newell.

THE TRUTH ABOUT HOME WORK

It seems employers are continuing to embrace telecommuting. A 2015 report by WorldatWork (a nonprofit human resources association), which surveyed Canadian and American employers, found that 53 percent offered their teams the opportunity to work from home once a week, and 34 percent let full-time employees do it exclusively. Yes, working at home has its perks (read: saving on lunches out and living in pajama bottoms), but a study released last year by the University of Iowa and the University of Texas at Austin confirms what those of us who do it have long suspected: Telecommuting adds hours to the workday (with little to no extra pay) and cuts into personal time because it’s hard to put away that laptop. If this is your situation, don’t fret; you can disconnect when you live where you work. Heather Petherick, a career coach in Calgary, suggests “creating a transition ritual and being accountable to clock out.” Don’t forget to unplug by keeping devices turned off and out of reach after work hours so you’re less likely to check emails or send text messages, she says.

Classic

SUMMER CINEMA

Feeling nostalgic? We picked three of our favourite summer flicks that capture a slice of the season in the good old days.

Gidget (1959)

Tomboy teen Francie hits the beach on summer vacation and ends up fal l ing for a couple of surfers who nickname her Gidget and teach her to hang 10. Spoiler: By the end of the season, love-struck Moondoggie gives the perky blond his fraternity pin.

Dirty Dancing (1987)

It’s 1963 and Baby and her family are at Kellerman’s, a resort in the Catskills. She soon meets dreamy dance instructor Johnny Castle, who quite literally sweeps her off her feet, teaching her to dance and come into her own before summer’s end.

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)

Sidda and her mother, Vivi, have a huge falling- out. That’s when the Ya-Yas—Vivi’s group of lifelong friends—intervene to bring mother and daughter back together.