Idea #5: Schedule nothing for a week.

When you get ready to take a week's vacation, you purposely clear your schedule. No meetings, no lunches, no doctor's appointments. Not even an evening with friends. Luckily, you can do this even when you're not about to get on a plane. Try planning nothing for a whole week. If someone asks for a meeting, simply tell them that the week is not good for you. (This requires some advance planning, so you may want to choose a week that is in a month's time.)

Then, when you get to your unscheduled week, take advantage of the freedom. Make a date with yourself and your favorite magazine. Or try a new recipe. Or pick another Vacation Day idea to try out. There are no limits.