How often do people need a vacation?

Two vacations a year might seem like a lot to some and not enough to others, but that's truly the minimum number of vacations we're talking about here. One U.K. survey found that you need a day off at least every 62 days to avoid feelings of anxiety, aggression, and physical illness.



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The average American takes about 4.4 vacation days per year, according to a survey conducted by the U.S. Travel Association in 2019. This means that most Americans take one or two short trips each year, usually lasting between three and five days each time.

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The average American takes 17 PTO days a year3 while workers with unlimited PTO take 10 days off. We can see that just because an employee has an option to take as much time off as they want doesn't mean they actually will.

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Not only are you at risk for burnout, one nine-year long study, published in Psychosomatic Medicine, suggests not taking at least one vacation a year may increase your risk of mortality due to cardiovascular disease. So, not only are you killing your joy, you're possibly killing yourself. Give yourself a break, people.

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The Impact of Going Too Long Without a Vacation. Even though your career focus seems bright, going too long without a vacation can have serious consequences. Stressful situations take a toll on your mental and physical health, leading to poor performance at work, exhaustion, illness, and depression.

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Your health could be at risk As the American Psychological Association notes, chronic stress can result in depression, headaches, heart disease, stroke, and more.

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For many, that's thanks to the European Union Working Time Directive, which passed in the early 1990s, and requires at least 20 working days of paid vacation in all EU countries. Several countries offer even more by law, giving workers more than a month of business days in vacation time per year.

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“One of the biggest reasons not to take a two-week vacation is returning with a ton of stress because there is too much on your plate,” she says. “Even if you vacation for one full week and the two adjoining weekends, it can be manageable, but two full weeks is just too much and the stress begins to accumulate.

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Whether jetting away on a luxury vacation or staying home in their pajamas on a staycation, 63 percent of U.S. adults are likely to take a summer vacation this year. The number of vacationers will increase since 2022, when 61 percent of people told Bankrate they were likely to take a summer vacation.

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American millennials are reported to travel an average of 35 days per year, significantly more than other generations. Meanwhile, the average travel days for other generations in the US are 26 for Gen X, 27 for baby boomers, and 29 for Gen Z.

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Iran has the most statutory annual vacation days in the world (53), with a clear week's worth more than second-placed San Marino (46). As well as a reasonable 26 days of paid leave, Iran has nearly a month of public holidays (27 days), which is more than any other country.

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Things began to change in 1919, when some French printers and bakers won a week's paid vacation. By 1925, laws in six eastern and central European countries mandated paid vacations. In contrast to workers' demands for a forty-hour work week, their desire for time off was relatively acceptable to employers.

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Studies have shown that taking time away from the job can have physical and mental health benefits. People who take vacations have lower stress, less risk of heart disease, a better outlook on life, and more motivation to achieve goals.

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When you take time away from the stresses of work and daily life, it can improve our physical and mental health, motivation, relationships, job performance and perspective. A vacation can help you feel refreshed and more prepared to handle whatever comes when you return.

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