Welcome to a new mini-series I’ll be running throughout the Blogathon in which I’ll share my tips for optimizing the use of those precious vacation days you get at work. In each post, I’ll share another bit of advice that will help you better plan and enjoy your time off.

• Take off when nobody else does. Sure, that might mean you’ll go on a week-long vacation in mid-March or late October; but with everyone else at work, there’s a better chance they can find someone to handle your position while you’re gone. This might even save you from getting a desperate cell phone call from your boss while you’re sipping margaritas on the beach!