the importance of vacations

By Lisa Cuseo-Ott, Ph.D., July 2011

What do you associate with the word "vacation"? Does it conjure up images of a tropical beach, European site-seeing trip or a road trip resembling Chevy Chase's "Vacation"? However we choose to spend our leisure time, it is clearly a very important part of maintaining a healthy, balanced life.

Despite the psychological importance of taking a vacation, it is surprising to note that Americans are using less vacation time than ever. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the average American man works 100 hours more a year than in the 1970's, while the average American woman works 200 hours more a year. While the average American worker takes 12 days of vacation per year, 65% of American employees failed to use their vacation time in 2010. This is a stark contrast to the Europeans who take an average of 24 vacation days per year.

In our U.S. society that underemphasizes leisure and overemphasizes consumption, it is easy to get caught up in the trap of trying to appear "hard working" by not taking vacation time or taking work with us on vacation. This is a dangerous pattern as it leads to increasing stress and less overall productivity in our workforce. According to a 2009 Vacation Deprivation Survey, 53% of employed U.S. adults report feeling rested and rejuvenated after vacation as well as reconnected with their families. In addition, 34% of those surveyed state that they come back from vacation feeling better about their jobs and are more productive at work.

We do not need to spend a considerable amount of money to fly off to an exotic beach in order to achieve the positive effects of vacation. According to the dictionary, a "vacation" is defined as "a period of rest from work." The psychological definition would include a period of stress reduction, regeneration and rest. In addition, the need to feel that we are in control of our own time must be satisfied. Most importantly, a vacation provides an opportunity to get away from the routine of life. The daily grind of work, childcare and household duties takes its toll on us as we move from one obligation to the next, often guided by a deadline.

The secret of planning a good vacation is that it incorporates all of these elements: rest from work, control of one's time and removal from our daily routine or status quo. Although it would be nice to be able to get away for 1-2 weeks by traveling to an exotic land, we can also meet these criteria in simpler ways. A "stay vacation," for example, allows us to explore places in our own backyard as if it were a foreign land. As residents of Virginia, we are fortunate to live near the beach and mountains, in addition to beautiful lakes and important historical sites. Sometimes just taking a day trip to one of these locations makes us feel as if we have "been away," especially when we're in the midst of other tourists visiting our state. This year, have fun planning your vacation and remember that it's important for your health!