Blog

If you haven't yet planned your summer vacation, check out these suggestions for making the most of your break ... and coming back to work better than ever.

Do the opposite of normal.

As the saying goes, "a change is as good as a rest." If you sit at a desk from morning to night, make your vacation an action-packed adventure. If your job is physically demanding, then veg out on a beach somewhere. If you live in the city, get up close and personal with nature. If you don't, head into town for a nightlife, shopping and culture binge.

Join the party.

The 4th of July isn't the only anniversary being celebrated this summer. To name just a few that are offering commemorative festivities:

U.S. National Park Service, 100th anniversary

Pearl Harbor attack, 75th anniversary

Star Trek, 50th anniversary

Shakespeare's death, 400th anniversary

Botswana independence, 50th anniversary

More ideas: Major anniversaries in 2016

Share your passion.

Conventions and festivals are a great way to make new friends who love the same things you do. 2016's calendar is full of such events, from sci-fi and sports collector conventions, to music festivals, to historical reenactments.

More ideas: World's best festivals

Let them entertain you.

Want your fun already packaged and ready to enjoy? Then theme parks, cruises and destination resorts are the way to go. World theme park capital: Orlando, Florida.

More ideas: Top 10 U.S. amusement parks

Learn something new.

Learning vacations come in all shapes, sizes, locations and budgets. Get scuba diving certified in the Bahamas, take art classes in France or drive a real NASCAR race car. Or you could acquire a skill that will help advance your current or future career, such as software or languages.

Whichever vacation you choose, keep in mind that it should be a complete break from work (no checking your email every day). That way, you'll return fresh and ready to reach new heights of achievement.