Does a Vacation Actually Reduce Stress?

Many people working stressful jobs look forward to their annual (or semi-annual) vacation(s) as a way of resting and recovering from the strain of their working lives. Yet, does a vacation actually reduce stress and lead to positive outcomes?

A recent meta-analysis of studies on vacation and employee well-being (Grant, et al., 2025) suggests that vacations do, for the most part, lead to greater well-being, but they need to be done right!

The most encouraging finding is that vacation actually does increase employees’ sense of well-being. Moreover, it begins before the vacation, increases during the vacation, and tapers off after returning home. However, the positive effects of the vacation last well beyond the initial period of returning to work.

What are some of the other findings?

• Staycations vs. Awaycations. There is some evidence that spending vacation time away from home has a stronger positive effect on well-being.
• Longer vs. Shorter Vacations. Longer vacations tend to increase employee well-being, but the positive effects of the vacation tend to fade out more quickly than with shorter vacations (perhaps because being away so long gets you behind at work).
• Psychological Detachment. Part of the beneficial effect of vacations is due to becoming mentally detached from work. It is suggested that having a stay-at-home staycation may not provide the kind of needed detachment from work to have beneficial effects.

Here are some guidelines for doing vacations right:

1. Take That Vacation! Workers in the U.S. tend to not use their vacation days – leading to billions of dollars in lost benefits. Make sure to take those “paid-for” vacation days.
2. Unplug. Don’t continue working during the vacation. Although some workers may need to check in, try to separate yourself from work as much as possible in order to enjoy leisure (and exploring) opportunities. That psychological detachment from work is important.
3. Don’t Overload. Trying to do too much – going on nonstop tours and adventures and stressing over timetables and filling every moment – may not be a good strategy for reducing stress. But, the research did find that engaging in physical activities during vacation did lead to a greater sense of well-being. This makes sense because exercise, in general, tends to have a positive impact on well-being.
4. Have the Right Mindset. Feeling guilty about not being at work (and, perhaps, believing that you are letting the team down) is not going to allow you to get the restorative effects of the vacation. Enjoy your time away – you deserve it!