The Vacation Effect

Source: Photo by Vicko Mozara on Unsplash

I was gone all summer—offline and not at all working. I read over 20 books on my new Kindle, went to the beach a lot, and practiced my Bosnian. Last summer, I slipped back into work mode. Big time. Feeling rested and inspired, I wrote an entire book during the time I was supposed to be chilling. But this year, I made it a point to only rest, recuperate, rejuvenate, relax, and reconnect with my family.

And I feel great. I’m eager to get back to work. I feel more relaxed and less stressed, so I wondered what kind of psychological benefits are inherent to a good vacation. I want to spread the good word about taking time off work.

Psychological Benefits of Vacationing

It turns out vacationing—defined in one study as more than a regular weekend off work—is about as good for your mind as meditating. That’s good news because a) meditation has tons of positive effects including reducing stress and increasing mindfulness, and b) though I’ve tried and tried over the years, I still struggle to get a daily meditation habit going, and c) I love going on vacation.

In one study, participants alternated meditating and not meditating for eight weeks. Questionnaires confirmed that meditation helped participants feel less stressed and more mindful. Interestingly, these results were measured against questionnaires participants completed while on vacation. The results were that vacation had similar effects on stress levels and mood as a daily meditation practice. Great news for shoddy meditators and avid vacationers like myself.

Of course, the de-stressing effects of vacation don’t last forever. Many experts suggest taking smaller, regular vacations throughout the year to continuously recharge your battery.

Two More Reasons to Take Some Time Off

1. Novelty

Vacation also helps us break out of normal routines. Novel languages, cultures, landscapes, and routines make it much harder to be on autopilot. There’s some savoring involved in a good vacation because things are different than your usual routine. This novelty can spark new ideas and help us look at old problems in a new light.

2. Your Job Isn’t Everything, and It Won’t Last Forever

My final plea for everyone who’s able to take time off to do so is that it’s just good practice for the future. Someday we won’t be working. If we live long enough and if we’re fortunate, less and less of our hours will be spent working. Taking time off now is a dry run for our final chapters. Can you turn your phone off? Can you savor that sunset? Can you let your mind wander and wonder?

Being consumed with your job can be great. Work can give us meaning, identity, belonging, and obviously, a paycheck. But work and career, like everything else, are impermanent. It’s fleeting.

If you start practicing now, vacationing—taking time to explore and relax—may get you through your stressful work years. It may help you see the world anew and keep you inspired and engaged. It may also be a great rehearsal for finding peace and meaning during your last handful of revolutions around the sun.