Considering a Work Break? Discover Why Science Reveals It’s More Beneficial Than You Think!

The average employee in the UK took about 33.9 days off in 2024, which is down from 38 days in 2020. Surprisingly, nearly half of workers don’t use all of their vacation days. If you’re one of them, it might be time to rethink your approach to time off.

Recent research from the University of Georgia shows that vacations can boost our well-being in ways we might not realize. Ryan Grant, the study’s lead author, emphasizes that vacations provide longer-lasting benefits than we previously thought.

The researchers analyzed data from nine countries and found that longer vacations led to better job performance. It turns out that fully disconnecting from work during a holiday makes employees healthier and more alert when they return. However, if employees don’t ease back into work after a long break, their wellness can suffer. Grant suggests allowing a few days before and after a vacation to transition smoothly back to work life.

So why do many people not take all their time off? Fear plays a big role. Workers worry about missing out on promotions or being judged negatively for taking time away from work. Stress from job demands adds to this feeling. A study by Pew Research found that many employees, especially women and Black workers, feel guilty about leaving their colleagues with increased workloads or fear repercussions on their job security.

Prioritizing time off is essential for our mental health and productivity. Understanding the true value of vacations can help us break the cycle of overworking and make time to relax and recharge.