We all know that taking a vacation is important for our well-being. Yet many of us postpone it or save our PTO “for later.” But, as always, knowing that vacations are good for our well-being is one thing; actually taking them seriously is another.
What if skipping your vacation wasn’t just bad for your health, but also bad for your wallet?
A study involving more than 3,300 men and women found that every additional 10 days of paid vacation was associated with a 29% lower risk of depression among women. For mothers, the association was even stronger, with a 36% lower risk of depression for every additional 10 days of paid leave.
Another well-known long-term study reached a similarly striking conclusion. Men who regularly skipped their annual vacations had a 32% higher risk of dying from a heart attack compared with those who took vacations regularly.
Given that, on average, it costs between €3,000 in Spain and €5,000 in Germany to treat depression (and likely much more in the United States), taking care of yourself and taking regular vacations is an investment in your future mental well-being that could also save you money.
These numbers are a reminder that a long vacation is more than just a chance to travel or relax. It is an opportunity for your body and mind to recover from work-related stress.
You don’t need to use many vacation days to enjoy longer breaks. By planning your PTO around public holidays and creating bridge days, you can significantly increase your time off while using the same number of vacation days. LongVacation.eu helps you do exactly that.
Don’t wait until you’re exhausted to take a break. Your future self will thank you.
Frequently asked questions
How many days is enough?
There is no magic number — the studies cited above show benefits from regular, relatively short breaks, not just one long trip a year. The practical answer: use what you have, deliberately. Instead of burning days one by one, cluster them around public holidaysand weekends so a few PTO days become several real breaks across the year. The planner can show you exactly where those clusters are for your country.