In 2018, Americans left 768 million vacation days unused — up 9% from 2017, and a new record — according to the U.S. Travel Association. Of these unused days, U.S. Travel found 236 million of them were forfeited completely, which equates to about $65.5 billion in lost benefits. At times, the prospect of taking a vacation can seem like more trouble than it's worth — especially when you sit and consider all of the work that will be waiting when you return. The prevalence of hustle culture has also affected how American professionals think about using their vacation time. For those unfamiliar with the concept of hustle culture, it refers to a lifestyle in which a person's career takes over all aspects of their life and they feel required to always be "on" in order to succeed. Many worry that asking for time off could make it appear as if they are less committed to their job than workers who never call off. Leaving your vacation time on the table could end up being counterproductive to your professional success, however. According to Harvard Business Review, research shows that people who take more than ten days of vacation are 30% more likely to receive a raise, and those who take vacations regularly are more satisfied with their jobs. Even if you're already a vacation enthusiast, it's still normal to experience anxiety about the work you'll be leaving behind. The slideshow above offers tips for insurance agents who want to make their transition to vacation — and back into the office — as smooth and stress-free as possible for themselves and their clients.

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