Vacations can be stressful. But with the right design, they don’t have to be. Get more out of your vacation with these four vacation design hacks.
As July 4th approaches, many employees are getting ready for a vacation. While some longingly anticipate some time off, for others, the thought of vacation induces stress. Health and well-being take a significant hit one to two weeks before a vacation, as shown by research published by Jeroen Nawijn, tourism researcher at Breda University, and Professors Jessica de Bloom, University of Groningen, and Sabine Geurts, Radboud University. The reason? Employees try to finish extra work before they leave, and are busier at home getting ready to go.
Vacations are designed to provide employees with a much-needed break from the busyness of work. But if we feel more stressed before we even arrive at our destination, what is the point? There is clear evidence that individuals who vacation more frequently tend to have better health. One study, published in Psychosomatic Medicine, even shows that those at risk for cardiovascular disease can reduce this risk by taking frequent vacations each year.
The question is thus not whether you should take a vacation, but how you vacation most effectively. Previously, I advised taking frequent but short vacations if you are worried about work piling up. You can also plan a vacation closer to home, or at home, if you dread long travel queues. There are many more ways to design smarter vacations to avoid stress and enjoy your vacation. In her book “You Need a (Better) Vacation”, Jennica Day, vacation expert and consultant, lays out evidence-based principles of designing vacations that lower stress and increase happiness.Design a Vacation for You, Not for Your Followers
To design a good vacation, you need to know yourself. You are the one taking the vacation, so the only leading question should be what you (and any travel companions) enjoy most. “You Need a (Better) Vacation” includes exercises to match your personality with certain types of vacations. For instance, if you are extroverted, seeking vacations to mingle with others will give you energy. Introverts, on the other hand, might be happier when they build in enough me-time to decompress.
