The world today is very competitive . In both work and personal life one has to be productive, efficient, correct, have a high performance, meet deadlines, face difficult situations, make decisions, demonstrate proactivity, renew oneself, update oneself continuously

All of this induces a state of stress that, although initially drives and motivates us to remain attentive and give the best of ourselves, if we are continually maintained it leads to a decrease in motivation, performance and enjoyment of work activity that even induces some disorder such as burnout, anxiety disorders or depressive symptoms.

In order to avoid this, apart from other considerations, advice and the application of relaxation techniques such as breathing, it is necessary to have periods of rest in which to relax both physically and psychologically and to disconnect from daily problems. That is, a vacation is necessary .

The need for holidays

During this period of rest, it is very useful to carry out recovery activities such as relaxation so that the individual can withdraw and rest from the stressors that he or she has in his or her usual life.

Understood as a reward for the effort made, holidays are an element that reinforces self-esteem and self-concept, as well as preventing the appearance of stress and other disorders. This is a period in which we can do activities that we find pleasant and for which we normally do not have the opportunity, temporarily leaving behind the responsibilities associated with the position, role or personal and social status.

Beneficial effects of rest

There are many benefits to enjoying a vacation properly. In the first place, in relation to the aforementioned stress, the holiday period helps to relax, repairing the organism of the damages caused by the increase of cortisol and anxiety .

Likewise, a good rest produces a notable increase in creativity, which can give rise to the formation of new strategies and ideas that would not arise in a stressful environment. This is because during the periods of rest the brain is not inactive, but only stops focusing on certain stimulation, activating many other areas of the psyche that are usually left aside.

In this sense, the mental unblocking produced by rest leads to an improvement in the capacity for judgement and decision making , enabling the complete analysis of the available information and subsequent decision making.

In addition, rest produces an increase in productivity and concentration, by reducing intellectual blockage and the mental and physical slowing down that is typical of a continuous situation of stress. The latency of reaction to stimuli decreases, increasing performance and efficiency both during the recreational period and when returning to work.

Finally, rest triggers the release of endorphins and the activation of neural reward circuits, stimulating the presence of dopamine and serotonin in the brain. All this produces a reduction of anxiety and negative thought patterns. In conclusion, holidays are a way to bring happiness to those who are able to enjoy the holiday rest period.

Things to avoid that diminish the healing effect of holidays

It is necessary to take into account that the simple fact of having a holiday is not in itself repairing , but that the rest comes from the change of activities and ways of thinking in comparison with the usual situation. In this way, not everything is valid, but some elements should be taken into account that make it difficult to really enjoy the holiday period.

In this regard, a common problem with holidays, especially short ones, is over-scheduling. There is often a tendency to make extensive lists of things to do or visit. It is worth noting that more quantity does not equate to more quality, as saturation of available time can produce even more stress.

Bedtime is also a frequent problem. It is common to see how individuals tend to go to bed according to a stipulated schedule in order to make the most of their time. Again, it must be remembered that the ultimate goal is to rest and enjoy .

Another problem to avoid is the creation of a B routine (with A being the daily routine). In this sense, the need to do things out of the ordinary, which do not imply a constant repetition of the same schemes present in daily life, must be valued.

Although the leisure time that the holidays represent should be enjoyed to the fullest, the need to take into account the economic aspect should not be forgotten. It is likely that unforeseen events will occur. Likewise, the enjoyment should be carried out without falling into excesses, since a complete lack of control can cause health, economic and/or relational problems.

Recommendations for improving the quality of holidays

We have talked about some elements to avoid so that the mental regeneration produced by the vacation rest is not clouded. Let’s see now some basic recommendations to improve the latter .

1. The good thing about improvisation

Among all the recommendations, the main one is to have great flexibility. As already mentioned, the holiday period is full of possible contingencies, and no matter how well planned the needs of individuals may change. Being able to improvise and adapt to the wishes and possibilities is fundamental for an optimal experience of enjoyment .

2. Change of mentality

A second essential element is to disconnect completely from the normal routine . That is, it is necessary that before starting the holiday period everything is prepared so that the usual responsibilities do not interrupt (unless there is a greater need) the rest.

3. Daring

Another important element is to dare to do new things , because it allows the acquisition of new points of view that can bring great changes to our lives, increasing our creativity.

4. Preventing conflict

A further consideration that should be taken into account for those whose holidays are to be spent in company is the recommendation to choose the activities to be carried out in a collaborative manner. This strengthens the bond between the subjects, and also provides different perspectives that can help find better options for everyone.

Starting over: re-entry

The holiday rest period has an end . Being aware of this fact and facing it can mean the difference between rejoining daily life with energy and optimism and entering a state of dejection before the return of obligations, popularly known as post-vacation syndrome.

In this sense a progressive return must be sought to re-adapt to daily life, returning home a few days earlier , for example, adjusting the circadian rhythms to the usual schedule and in some cases, encouraging companies to allow a progressive re-entry. Likewise, at the beginning of the holidays it is important not to become obsessed with the time remaining until they are over, but to plan for a return in a specific period.

Bibliographic references

  • Colombo, V. and Cifre, E. (2012). The importance of recovery from work: A review of where, how and why. Papers of the Psychologist, Vol 33 (2), 129-137.
  • Immordino, M. H. et. al. (2012) Rest Is Not Idleness. Implications of the Brain’s Default Mode for Human Development and Education. Perspectives on Psychological Science; 7(4): 352-364.
  • Leung, A. K. et. Al. (2008) Multicultural experience enhances creativity: the when and how. The American Psychologist; 63(3): 169-181.
  • Nawijn, J. et al. (2010) Vacationers Happier, but Most not Happier After a Holiday. Applied Research in Quality of Life; 5(1): 35-47.