Science Says This Is the Ideal Vacation Length

More days away doesn’t always equal more relaxation, studies show.

Each year you have a certain amount of days you can get away. Should you take them all at once and indulge in a lavish vacation blowout? Should you spread them out into little mini-breaks, or even use them to give yourself lots and lots of long weekends?

It’s a question every professional must answer, and while the nature of your work, the size of your budget, and the preferences of your family all play a role in deciding what sort of holiday to take, science also has something to say on the issue. Studies have identified an ideal length of time to get away to maximize the relaxation bang you get for your vacation buck.

Eight days to peak vacation joy.

The research out of a Finnish university followed 54 holidaymakers throughout the duration of their getaways, measuring the highs and lows of their happiness and satisfaction as their vacations progressed. The researchers discovered that vacation-related joy didn’t climb ever upward as tourists’ tans deepened and work receded to a distant memory. In contrast, happiness peaked after eight days away.

“It could be that eight days is the ideal to fully gain the benefits of a holiday,” Jessica de Bloom, a member of the research team, told The Wall Street Journal.

The idea that a little more than a week is the perfect vacation length sits well with other seasoned vacationers. “Eight days. Seems about right. You take off on a Friday after work, maybe sneak out a little early. You then have Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday,” HR expert Tim Sackett wrote, commenting on the study on his blog.

“That first day never seems like a vacation as you get settled in and try to unwind and that last Saturday you need to start packing and getting stuff together because you leave on Sunday. That final Sunday might as well be a work day because you definitely aren’t on vacation any longer!” he added, explaining why the week-and-a-bit duration appealed to him.

The science of the perfect getaway.

It’s a finding worth noting if you’re planning a last-minute summer getaway. Travel is expensive, after all (and, if you have kids, not exactly stress free), so there’s no point prolonging a trip if the extra time and money spent isn’t going to add to your happiness or relaxation levels. But this study isn’t the only scientific insight available on how to take the best possible vacation. Happiness experts have plenty of other tips to offer on how to get the most joy out of your vacation, while other research shows how to squeeze every last drop of enjoyment out of your holiday.

How long is the ideal vacation in your opinion?

生词记录

get away 常指因需要休息而外出度假

indulge 沉溺于，放纵

lavish 大量的，使人印象深刻的，昂贵的，慷慨的，大方的

blowout 盛宴

mini-break 短假

buck 美元；许多钱；抵制，反抗

tan 晒成棕褐色的肤色

sit right/well with sb 某人可接受；受某人欢迎

seasoned 经验丰富的，老到的

settle in 安顿下来，适应新环境

unwind 解开，打开；放松，轻松

last-minute 最后一分钟才完成（或决定，安排好等）；紧急关头的

insight 洞察力，深刻见解

squeeze 挤压；挤进；给···带来财务困难