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.
People Also Ask
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.
In the healthy lifestyle recommendation group of the ESC study, researchers found that shorter vacations were associated with higher mortality. Participants who took shorter vacations also worked more and slept less than those who took longer vacations, which only increased stress in their lives.
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.
The study revealed that vacationers need eight days to fully unwind and feel refreshed. However, happiness peaked at eight days and fell dramatically after 11, making seven to 11 days the perfect vacation length.
In fact, taking shorter breaks throughout the year may be more beneficial for your mental well-being and performance than taking one long vacation. In other words, you can get the benefits of a vacation without incurring the stress of an extended time away.
A positive, well-managed vacation can make you happier and less stressed, and you can return with more energy at work and with more meaning in your life. Positive vacations have a significant effect upon energy and stress. In our study, 94 percent had as much or more energy after coming back after a good trip.
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.
There's a scientific reason why 2-week vacations are actually a waste. A two-week vacation might be twice as long as a one-week vacation, but don't expect to have twice the memories once you get back. According to psychologist Daniel Kahneman, shorter vacations are typically just as good in hindsight as longer 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.
However, Americans tend to take fewer vacation days overall, compared to other countries. In 2018, the average American took 9 out of their 17.4 paid days off for travel, as reported by the US Travel Association.
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.
Apparently, eight days is enough time for you to acclimate to travel and relax a bit, away from your day-to-day responsibilities. I get that. If you're traveling through some time zones, it often takes you a few days at the start of your trip to get over the horrors of jet lag or potential travel fails.