I find delight in every season, but there is something particularly glorious about the spring and summer months. It usually also means a holiday is coming! A most wonderful opportunity to switch off from work, enjoy time with loved ones, perhaps see a new place, and find joy in whatever form that looks like for you.
That’s all great, but we all know that familiar feeling of returning to work and within a couple of weeks we are ready for the next break! So how do we approach vacations from work, to ensure we get the most out of our breaks and sustain the restorative benefits they bring? I happened upon a couple of podcasts recently that I found really helpful:
- “Why you should take a vacation – and how to get the most out of it.” – Speaking of Psychology with Jessica de Bloom and Sarah Pressman.
- “The Science of Recharging on Weekends and Vacations.” – WorkLife with Adam Grant.
There has been plenty of discussion on the importance of taking breaks from work, and the benefits they bring in terms of improved physical and mental health, as well as improved productivity, creativity and resilience at work. How long do these benefits last? Dr De Bloom’s research suggests that within 1-2 weeks of returning to work, we are right back to our pre-holiday state. One suggestion for lengthening vacation effect is to return to work on a Wednesday and have a shorter first week back, rather than jumping straight back into long hours. The research also generally supports the notion that taking shorter breaks more regularly is more beneficial than taking longer, less frequent breaks.
Then there is the question of what type of vacation is the most restorative: home or away, active or quiet, planned or spontaneous. The answer is whatever you find joy in. Adam Grant talks with Dr Sabine Sonnentag in his podcast, discussing two different kinds of recovery activities that Dr Sonnentag identified through her research: relaxation and mastery experiences.
Relaxation is the slower paced activity we think of when we picture ‘unwinding’, perhaps by reading a book or watching a movie. Mastery is an activity that challenges us, but in a way that refreshes us. Learning a new hobby is an example of this. Mastery activities have the double benefit of boosting our confidence with a sense of achievement, and helping us mentally detach from work. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to vacationing, the general principle of taking shorter, regular breaks with a range of relaxing and refreshingly challenging activities will help sustain the benefits of these very important breaks from work. Happy holiday planning!