Happy Wednesday, friends!

How’s your week going?

You could say I’m pretty maxed out this week—and not just because I am wearing a maxi dress in this post. (#couldnotresist) But you’re probably not here to read about my miles-long to-do list, because I know you have your own, too.

Instead, I thought we could talk about something a little more fun: weekend getaways—why I love them, how I afford them, how I have enough vacation days to travel often. We are halfway to Friday, after all, and I’m on the road again this weekend—heading to New York City!

WHY I LOVE WEEKEND GETAWAYS //

So, needless to say, I am a big proponent of getting out of town for the weekend when you can. While I love my daily routine, taking a break from the grind always helps my anxiety because it allows me an opportunity to put my problems and daily stresses into perspective.

There’s something so freeing in being super worked up about something when you leave town on Friday afternoon and then it barely registering as an issue when you return on Sunday simply because you’ve had some time away. And when I do come back, I’m more rejuvenated and ready to tackle tasks head-on.

And I’m sure you do, too, but I always dream up my most creative ideas when I’m away from home. There’s a power in rest, and seeing new places and gaining new experiences only seems to better the work I do. (Case in point.)

HOW I AFFORD WEEKEND GETAWAYS // 

While I don’t yet have the funds to take more than one or two big trips a year, that doesn’t stop me from ditching town when I can.

I’ve found that going somewhere within driving distance or a short (>2 hour) flight is a great way to travel affordably on the weekends. Plus, you don’t spend the entire time getting to your destination—time is money after all. When driving, I try to invite three friends so there are more people to split gas and the hotel with, or I visit a friend and stay on their couch for free!

When flying, I look for flight deals, book early, and/or fly at slightly off times. I never pay extra to check a bag or upgrade my seat. I also try to fly Southwest when possible, and have racked up enough frequent flyer miles for a few flights.

But bottom line, I make travel a priority in my budget and try to save money in other ways. I buy $5 wine, skip on the Tivo fees, use Uber pool, and eat-in as often as I can.

HOW I HAVE ENOUGH VACATION DAYS TO TRAVEL OFTEN // 

I try to not spend my vacation days on weekend trips, and instead save those for longer trips because I feel like I get more bang for my buck. As a result, I book any travel after work on Friday to avoid spending vacation hours on a weekend trip. I also try to stay as long as I can on Sunday so that I maximize the short trip as much as possible. The laundry will get done eventually!

I am also lucky that my office has summer Fridays (we close at 3pm) and flexible work hours. So if I want to leave three hours early on a regular Friday, I can ask my boss to make up those hours during the week without having to dip into PTO.

When all else fails, take advantage of three-day weekends like Memorial Day and Labor Day!

Speaking of weekend trips, Monica and I shot these pictures before dinner at Dock Street on Friday during our Annapolis getaway. After the Mint Julep Boutique sent me a maxi to style last month, I had my eye on this colorful + black maxi dress that sells out super fast. I signed up to be notified via email when it was back in stock, and scooped it up as soon as it became available. (If you’re digging it, you’re in luck, it’s back in all sizes!)

I first wore it when I went to Fort Lauderdale, and was so excited to bring it with me for another waterfront escape this past weekend, too. Not only is it soft, lightweight, and perfectly summery—it doesn’t wrinkle! So ball that baby up and shove it right on into your weekender.

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Photos by Monica Dutia