Why a Relaxing Vacation Should Last at Least Eight Days
Sometimes a quick vacation is better than nothing, but if you can change it, try at least eight days. Research shows that you need at least that long to truly relax and feel refreshed.
Research published in the Journal of Happiness Studies suggests that your feelings of happiness and personal well-being increase rapidly once you take a break from the rat race. Your relaxation and positive emotions then peak on the eighth day of your vacation, increasing your sense of satisfaction. After that, your pleasure gradually subsides until the 11th day, when you are likely to experience a serious fall – perhaps due to a little homesickness or even boredom. Why day eight? They think that this is how long it takes for the average person to forget and let go of all their work responsibilities and stress.
Unfortunately, research also shows that how long you are away does not greatly affect your happiness after the fun is over. Whether you are away for at least eight days or not, these carefree effects are likely to fade after just one day when you return to work. Of course, you can still feel rested, but your mind quickly returns to reality when it realizes that the vacation regimen is over.
However, the researchers believe it is best to book a vacation of seven to 11 days. And try to make the eighth day the most relaxing of them all to get the most out of it. In addition, the researchers recommend taking multiple vacations of this length at regular intervals per year, rather than taking the entire vacation at once. The more opportunities you give yourself to recharge, the better.