Is it better to take a long vacation or several short ones?

Think about it: vacation improves your health and well-being. If you only take one long trip each year, you're only given the opportunity to reap these benefits once. But, if you plan out your PTO and schedule several, shorter trips throughout your year, you'll be reaping these benefits on a regular basis.



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You can use all your vacation time at once, but you need to think about how long the rest of the year might feel once finished with your vacation break. Several days in a row indeed increase your chances to completely relax. If you are eligible for two weeks, it is best not to take them all at once.

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Enter the mini vacation: quick trips that last two to four days. According to Project Time Off, people who take short vacations are happier, calmer, and more energized than those who rarely take time off. The American Psychology Association (APA) agrees.

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How Long Is Too Long For A Vacation? Just over a week is the optimal duration for a vacation as the benefits associated with vacationing start tapering off after the eight-day. After two weeks, not only does the vacation become less enjoyable, and stress can accumulate.

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Another one of De Bloom's studies found that while longer vacations are “more likely to facilitate mastery experience,” shorter vacations are “more likely to result in detachment and relaxation experiences.” In other words, if the purpose of the vacation is just to relax and escape, a jaunt shorter than seven days is ...

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No less than 8 days Of course, vacations that are too short aren't as relaxing either. The study also noted that it took about 8 days for people to let go of their stress and responsibilities back home. That means a 4- or 5-day vacation is unlikely to result in long-term relaxation or health benefits.

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In a study conducted in 2010, De Bloom found no notable difference in health and welfare — during or after vacation — in vacationers who went on holidays for four and a half days versus those who went for nine days. Further, there's been some secondary research that suggests three to six days is actually ideal.

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Keep in mind that the longer the trip, the less you spend on a daily basis simply because you don't need to fill each day with activities or spending expensive time in airports. This is the reason why we've said that longer trips can actually be cheaper on a relative basis.

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How much PTO per year is normal? On average, people with less than a year of experience will only take 13 days of paid leave per year. Comparatively, employees with over 20 years of experience are likely to take around 20+ days of paid leave each year.

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46% of those respondents said they will take their summer vacation during July, making it the most popular month for summer travel. More specifically, the second week of July was the most popular week for summer travel.

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Enter the mini vacation: quick trips that last two to four days. According to Project Time Off, people who take short vacations are happier, calmer, and more energized than those who rarely take time off. The American Psychology Association (APA) agrees.

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Time away can improve your physical health, increase your productivity when you return to work and reduce burnout. However, not all vacations are created equal. You need to be strategic to ensure that your getaway provides you with benefits that last long after you've unpacked your suitcase.

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