Thanks to Stephanie Yoder’s post, “Is the American Dream Holding You Back?” I discovered an article which explains everything I’ve been meaning to put into words, but haven’t.
Stephanie is a young woman who travels all over the world and blogs about her travels and one question she gets asked all the time is, “Why American’s don’t travel?” Stephanie says she has a whole host of theories, but it’s easiest for her to point out that,
“Well, most of us (Americans) don’t really have time (to vacation.)”
According to a CNN article entitled: Why is America the “No-Vacation” nation?
“America is the only advanced nation in the world that doesn’t mandate employers give their workers vacation time.”
John de Graaf, the national coordinator for Take Back Your Time, a group that researches the effects of overwork said,
“There is simply no evidence that working people to death gives you a competitive advantage.”
As with many companies in the U.S,
“The running joke at Brock’s company is that a vacation just means you work from somewhere else.”
A study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies, shows that:
- Working more, makes Americans happier than Europeans.
But isn’t that because Americans have been taught from a young age to believe in the American Dream? Are we working to accumulate more stuff? As Stephanie Yoder says,
“It’s a trick: an endless void of things we can throw money at: there’s always a new phone, a nicer car, a bigger house to be aspiring to. The problem with the American Dream is it’s always slightly out of reach.”
- Do Americans believe more than Europeans that hard work is associated with success?
Adam Okulicz-Kozaryn, the study’s author and an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Dallas, states:
“Americans maximize their… [happiness] by working, and Europeans maximize their [happiness] through leisure,” he found.”
Having spent half my life in Europe and then marrying an American and raising kids in the U.S. I find this topic fascinating.
I agree that Europeans take more vacations and travel more than the majority of Americans. I also agree with Stephanie’s post, there seems to be the “herd mentality” in the U.S.
“This idea that you need to do what everyone else is doing. This extreme pressure to go to school, get a job, work really, really hard for 45 years, and then maybe when you’re retired you can do the stuff you really want to do. It’s a powerful cycle and it’s extremely hard to opt out of it. I think, more so then the lack of vacation time, that is why Americans don’t travel: so few realize that the only American Dream you should be pursuing is your own personal one.”
The above quote fits in with so many of our My Gutsy Story® authors, and their stories like Lois Joy Hofmann, Carol Bodensteiner, and Larry Jacobson.
I also believe that the U.S. media plays the “fear factor” game with our minds, making us scared to travel, scared to try new foods, scared to let our kids play outside, scared they will get cancer if eat the wrong foods. I thought the U.S. was full of innovators and explorers, etc. What happened?
During MAY, I shall be in Copenhagen, Paris, London on vacation, while working of course (I’ve got the American work-work-work ethic going. )
Any thoughts? Please comment below.
Meanwhile, please submit your “My Gutsy Story®” which will continue in June.
Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?
NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.
Please read and share our April 2013 stories by David Prosser, Win Charles, Carol Bodensteiner, Linda Kovic-Skow and Jason Matthews.
Voting starts on May 2nd-May 15th for your favorite April
“My Gutsy Story®” .
You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here
I think it costs more and takes more time for U.S. folks to travel because we’re an ocean away from much of the world. When I lived in the UK, it was nothing to hop to Paris for a weekend or Switzerland for a few days.
Linda Austin recently posted..Letters From the Other Side of Haiti
Good point Linda, although I have to admit that more Europeans visit the US, as well as Australia, China, African countries etc. Parents also seem to send their kids abroad, for exchange programs across the Ocean, than we do in the U.S. I also noticed that vacation packages are often cheaper in Europe than in the U.S. We met an Irish couple in Cancun, who paid the same as us for 3 weeks at an All-Inclusive resort, ours was only one week and we were flying from LA, they were from Dublin.
Sonia Marsh recently posted..Why do Americans Work so Hard?
Oh boy, can I have fun with this. All of your points are right on. I would add a couple of my own. Even with jet travel, there is still an isolation mentality in the US. I’m constantly amazed at people who will not travel outside the United States. While people in Europe are in close proximately to each other, it’s still a commitment for Americans to travel.
On a completely different vein, consumerism attacked American in a way that is virtually unseen in the rest of the world. Bigger houses, more cars, clothes, and toys seem to permeate the American mentality. The way to acquire stuff is to work more.
I would love to sit down, have a glass of wine and talk about this topic all night long.
Cathy Severson recently posted..In Retirement or Life, How Do You Deal With a Bad Week?
Cathy, I would love to sit with you and discuss this as well. Have you lived in other countries where they value leisure time more than the hard work ethic?
Sonia Marsh recently posted..Why do Americans Work so Hard?
It’s very true, Sonia. I know, personally, it took me forever, or so it seemed, to get to Europe. A lack of $ had a lot to do with it, for many years. Air travel is so expensive, and when you’re spending thousands just to get there, and then you only have a week to spend vacationing, it’s easier to stay closer to home.
I totally believe it contributes to a lot of the fear and ignorance in the U.S. Exposure to other cultures makes you realize how much we are all alike, rather than fearing you won’t fit in. We need more travel, for sure!
Have a fabulous vacation!
b
Barbara,
Yes, cost is quite prohibitive, but I know that many people flock to Hawaii and stay at a nice hotel. They feel “safe” but don’t get to experience a different culture. Anyway, with so little time off from work, how can they?
Sonia Marsh recently posted..Why do Americans Work so Hard?
Without having read the articles you mention (I’ll read them later), one of the phenomena of America is unpaid overtime. “Unpaid overtime” is how employers “do more for less.”
So, if you’re chasing the almighty dollar, or just trying to keep your job, you want to get your work done, even if it means working lots of unpaid overtime.
If you’re in the mental habit of working all the time, a vacation is going to be a significant interruption. Realizing that people are creatures of habit, and don’t like change, you probably don’t want to do all the change that’s involved in taking a holiday.
But I’m just a Bear; what do it know?
Some day I should tell you bout how i went from being a pastor to a radio news guy, and had fun in the process.
Blessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
Life in the Urban Forest (poetry)
Rob-bear recently posted..IN WHICH BEAR DISCOVERS THE IDEAL POST FOR TODAY
Rob-bear, Good to see you back.
I remember an interview about a survey on NPR (national Public Radio) which claimed that taking 5-6 weeks vacation a year actually made workers more productive than American who only took 1-2 weeks off a year.
Even before the “recession” Americans took few days off, so I don’t think it’s something new Rob.
Sonia Marsh recently posted..Why do Americans Work so Hard?
I just don’t understand how a whole nation thinks it’s okay to work all the time and not have any leisure time!
Lady Fi recently posted..Metamorphosis
Maybe that will change with the younger generation. Although they seem to value “expensive gadgets” and reality TV shows don’t help.
Sonia Marsh recently posted..Why do Americans Work so Hard?
Sonia, You bring up so many valid points that I agree with. Americans do not know how to leave work at work. I didn’t realize that until my steps-son who lives in Germany told us years ago that he is mandated to take 30 days vacation. Work stress can be toxic and I think we should adopt Europe’s mantra of taking time off to recuperate and relax. I’m happy to say that after a gazillion years of working and foregoing vacations, my husband and I are traveling to Italy for a few weeks..better late than never. Have a wonderful trip. I know you will come back with many stories 🙂
Kathleen Pooler recently posted..Narrative Medicine: A Guest Post by Memoirist Nancy Stephan
Kathy,
I’m writing back to you from sunny Copenhagen. After months of cold and frost, it seems like I was able to bring the sun out from behind the clouds; at least for today. I’m sure you’re very excited to go to Italy. I haven’t been there on vacation. Are you going to Venice?
Sonia Marsh recently posted..Why do Americans Work so Hard?
Actually, lots of Americans do travel. Or is it that the ones of us who do tend to find each other? My husband traveled on business earlier than I did, but since 1990, I have been to 43 countries and counting, my husband has been to 47. The only continent I have not visited is Australia, and that should be remedied soon. I’ve been to each of the 50 states.
But as much as I’ve traveled, few things are different from watching a video. When we travel alone, we often face language barriers keeping us viewing local life “through a window.” When we go with a tour group, everything seems sanitized. We wonder what they don’t show us and fight crowds at the sights. Either way, much of what we see seems it’s trying to be “American.”
Still, there are those chance conversations like the one I had with a young tourist bureau employee on the street in Guilin, or the exciting visit to the travel agency in Amman to send an email to the USA, or the thrill of actually BEING in Machu Picchu, watching a wild giraffe lope across a meadow or a leopard in a tree feast on blood-dripping impala… Yes, there are highlight moments, but armchair travel is definitely the next best thing. Perhaps more engage in that than anyone realizes.
BTW, five of my six grandchildren have been to Rome (one prenatally). I have not made it there yet.
Sharon Lippincott recently posted..Story Around the World
Sharon,
I had no idea how much you’ve traveled. I flew Air New Zealand over to London and the flight attendants are so wonderful. A friend I met in London mentioned how friendly Australians and New Zealanders are. When are you going to Australia? Yes, it’s true, organized vacations don’t represent the “true” country and people, but you do get to see the beautiful parts of the world.
Sonia Marsh recently posted..Why do Americans Work so Hard?
Interesting post, Sonia.
I have a day job which allows me a number of vacations a year, and my husband, in a different field, gets as many days off as me. We travel approximately three times a year, but tend to travel mostly within the US. Many of our friends and family travel as much as we do, while others fit your stereotype of American workers.
As for traveling overseas, I believe safety abroad after 9-11, exorbitant flight fees, and potential language barriers are valid reasons for many Americans to curtail exploration of Europe and other continents at this time. The Europeans we meet at our Florida resorts often pay far less than we do for comparable vacations, especially now with the Euro stronger than the American dollar. Besides that, we truly enjoy exploring places closer to home. Once I’ve seen all the major regions of the US and the Caribbean, then I may be interested in traveling to Europe or Australia. Until then, our family enjoys learning about our vast country, a nation of immigrants with a variety of cultures.
Enjoy your travels, and come home safe! 🙂
Jolyse Barnett recently posted..Enjoy Key West Without Going Broke–Top Five Tips
Jolyse, your post reply comment on being fearful of your safety abroad post 9/11 is interesting to me. What we’ve experienced in our travels abroad in speaking to people about this, is that our loose gun laws and mass murder headlines cause many of them to have much of the same fear about traveling here. They think we’re the Wild West, with guns on every corner.
I’d love to be able to persuade them differently, but just this last week we visited a national park here in Californai where a sign was posted reading “Please be advised that private firearms are not permitted within national park boundaries.”
Jolyse,
I admit, there are many parts of the U.S., I have not visited, although Florida does seem to attract European vacationers. We noticed how they pay less to vacation around the world as well. Maybe a book about your travels?
Sonia Marsh recently posted..Why do Americans Work so Hard?
Sonia, reflecting on my own work experience prior to 2006 when I retired, I had spent approximately 35 years working the legal field. Here money was king, and those of employed “at will” and paid an hourly wage were paid for the overtime we worked but overtime wasn’t an option we could take or leave. If pleadings were required in court at 8am tomorrow, we were expected to work through the night if necessary. Often my weeks were five days of 10 hours plus a Saturday to bring sanity back to my assignments. My husband and I gave up on the idea of travel because honestly I was generally too tired. Now, I believe the materialism effect on our younger generation has them keeping the same pace because they’ve bought into the more they can have immediately is better. Where is that glass of wine? We could make this last through the night! 🙂
Sherrey Meyer recently posted..Revisiting Simplify
Sherrey,
I know. This is a topic we could keep discussing. My husband is also in the legal field, so I can understand how stressful your job was. Now you can write and catch up with the things you wanted to do and see. Am I right?
Sonia Marsh recently posted..Why do Americans Work so Hard?
We traveled each and every opportunity we could during our working years, even at the risk of being labeled as ‘slackers’ by our superiors. My husband’s company even gave the impression that taking all of his allotted vacation time wasn’t necessarily a good thing, by offering to buy back one week of it each year.
We were both high performers that appeared to be valued by our organizations. Before submitting our vacation time off requests we would reassure each other that doing so was not sufficient cause for termination . . . right?
Isn’t it crazy that we live in a country where we’re nervous to utilize our earned benefits? It is one of the things I miss the very least about working, now that we’re both retired. And traveling abroad frequently without having to request permission I should add!
Tamara,
You bring up a valid point. It’s strange that many I speak to have expressed the same about feeling “guilty” if they take more than a few days off. Anyway, glad to see that you have the freedom to travel now.
Sonia Marsh recently posted..Why do Americans Work so Hard?
Great conversation here. I lived in Sweden for a year, and they have this lovely tradition: they stop what they are doing every day at 10am and 3pm for FIKA (coffee & conversation). In their homes, they light candles and serve light refreshments and chat. When our Swedish friends come to the USA, they stop whatever we’re doing at 3pm to have a coffee–unfortunately, Starbucks isn’t strong enough for them. So, when are we all going to meet for a Fika and chat more about this topic? Oceans of blessings to all of you!
Yes a Fika sounds like a nice tradition. I love my coffee and stop for breaks at 10am and 3pm. Perhaps I’m into the Swedish coffee breaks.
Sonia Marsh recently posted..Winner of the May 2013 “My Gutsy Story®”
Most americans are delusional, in denial, and deceived. THey dont travel b/c their “jobs” offer little quality of real life. They clutch and cling to whatever the capitalism lie fest gives them, and think someday somedaze. All Horatio Alger myths, lies, and illusions of wealth. Somedaze. There is no real travelling amongst most americans–a 7 day cruise ship, or a the taste o’ europe tour for a whopping 10days is the most most americans will experience. Even when americans are on holiday–they engage in vacation contamination–checking the office email to make some CEO even more millions. Deranged populous with Cluster ABC mental derangements, including NPD, BPD, etc….
Her’s a quote for you (can’t remember who said it): “If you want to live the American Dream, move to Denmark.”
Thought you might enjoy that.
Rob-bear recently posted..UM, HELLO?
Love that comment Rob-bear, especially as I was born in Denmark, speak Danish, and love going back there.
Sonia Marsh recently posted..I’m Going Crazy Getting Ready For the Peace Corps
Which is precisely why I sent it to you! (Bear nods, and winks.)
Rob-bear recently posted..UM, HELLO?
I thought so. Thanks Rob-bear.
Sonia Marsh recently posted..I’m Going Crazy Getting Ready For the Peace Corps