#41 Get Away from it All (a Lot)

Adding an extra dose of behavioral science to your week with our series In a Nutshell— a collection of behavioral science principles, explained in 150 words or less, written weekly by CUBIC director Allison Zelkowitz.

As you’re developing your 2024 plans, are you also thinking about your potential holidays?  Perhaps you’re scheduling family trips during the school breaks, or taking a month off over the summer?

It turns out that HOW you schedule your leave matters:  

1.       A German study of teachers determined that the beneficial effects of holidays fade out within a month, so more frequent vacations lead to greater positive outcomes.

2.       An Israeli study of industrial workers concluded that the ameliorative effect of vacations on stress was the same for short vacations as long ones.

3.       A US survey revealed that people who take regular trips reported higher wellbeing, and that regular getaways were a greater predictor of wellbeing than income!

So to maximize your time off, plan a number of breaks throughout the year – not only will you repeatedly reap the benefits, but you’ll also have more to look forward to!