The summer sun is shining, and you’re stuck at your desk. Are you using up all your vacation time? According to Expedia’s Annual Vacation Deprivation survey, in 2009, 34% of employed U.S. adults did not take their full allotment of vacation days. What’s worse is that workers in the United States receive fewer vacation days on average than those in any other major country (13 days compared to 15 in Japan, 19 in Canada, 26 in the UK, and 38 in France). Yeah, you’re not making fun of French people anymore, are you?

Here are my 3 reasons why you should absolutely take those vacation days:

1. Work will go on without you

We like to think that we’re completely indispensible, and that our offices would implode without our crucial work and leadership. But would they really? If you walked out the door right now, life would go on. Don’t let work influence all your personal decisions, like taking vacations!

2. Even if you don’t go anywhere, you deserve time off

A day off at your house or apartment can be the perfect cure for stress. If you can’t afford to take a big trip, spread out some days off and just chill at home, go to a museum, or do something in town that you normally wouldn’t. Sleep in. Go get a massage. Watch a marathon of questionably good movies. Long weekends can be amazing!

3.  Maybe you CAN afford to go SOMEWHERE

Don’t make excuses. Sure, some vacations are expensive, but there are deals everywhere. Drive instead of flying. Stay with relatives instead of going to a hotel. Go for 5 days instead of 2 weeks. There are ways to work it out. Life is short, so go somewhere! According to the Expedia survey, in 2009 only 10% of U.S. workers planned to take two full weeks of vacation. A larger percentage planned to take one week and then a few days here and there.

(Image via: INeedMotivation)