What’s the hardest part of taking a vacation? Planning for it. We all dream about relaxing by the beach, but unfortunately we lack the teleportation powers to beam us directly to our fantasy paradise. And in a busy career, it can be difficult to suss out the best time during the year for a getaway.

Today is National Plan for Vacation Day, 24 hours devoted to declaring your vacation time for the rest of the year. Americans leave 658 million days unused each year, so take today to plan a trip.

Planning ahead increases the chances that you’ll actually take your days. According to Project: Time Off, the U.S. Travel Association-supported creator of the holiday, “69 percent of planners took a week or more of vacation at a time, where just 46 percent of nonplanners did.”

Project: Time Off delivers a step-by-step guide for planning ahead. First, start with a comprehensive knowledge of your benefits.

Second, take a hard look at your calendar to determine a good time to get away. “If your office is closed for a holiday, could you add an extra day off and turn a one-day holiday into a four-day weekend vacation?” it asks.

Next step? Dream big! Think about travel destinations you’d like to cross off your bucket list.

See more helpful advice and check out Project: Time Off’s handy planning toolkit here.

Alumni Association Tips

"Treat each 'I’m busy' like an 'I only have a moment to spare'." #assnchat #alumni #hesmhttps://t.co/DUuMTq1vcl

— Tassl (@TasslTech) January 31, 2017

Alumni associations may have a lot to learn from other professional associations.

Sarah Bender, an engagement specialist at Tassl, provides a few insights that alumni associations can use as they strategize for the rest of the year.

Don’t be overly dependent on social media because of their “pay-to-play” models and ever-changing algorithms. “While business organizations adjust their marketing strategy accordingly, it’s also more clear than ever that alumni networks need a new home,” says Bender. “Start diversifying the channels you use to engage with alumni and investing in tools that allow you to connect with them directly.”

Also, alumni groups shouldn’t be discouraged by busy members. “Find small, sustainable engagements that even your busiest members can take,” writes Bender. “Make these easily accessible and reward those who choose to participate.”

Check out Bender’s article for more tips.

Other Links of Note

Social media fails: MarketingProfs reveals the top-five social media mishaps of 2016 and the lessons we can all learn from them.

Microsoft takes on Google: According to The Verge, a simplified version of Windows 10 will be an alternative to the search giant’s lightweight Chrome OS.

Outreach advice: Discover the best ways to reach millennials through social media channels from the experts at Social Media Examiner.

(iStock/Thinkstock)