If your cortisol is through the roof, this is for you 👀
You don’t have to wait until you hate your job, cry on a Sunday night, or feel like you just can’t take it anymore to take a break. Sometimes your body starts asking for a pause much earlier, but you keep functioning on autopilot as if nothing’s wrong.
A study from the University of Tampere, in Finland, points out that about 8 straight days of vacation can help lower stress and get your head a little out of “I have a thousand things pending” mode. In other words, it’s not just about sleeping more: it’s also about no longer feeling like you’re spending the whole day running after something.
The idea wouldn’t be to disappear for a month once a year and come back just as exhausted, but to spread out your breaks better. Because sure, if you save everything for one giant getaway, you might arrive so worn out that the first few days only serve to make you feel human again.
According to the recommendation shared by science communicator Dani Arbós, one free week every three months could help more than it seems. You sleep better, breathe differently, eat more calmly, and finally stop looking at your phone as if every notification were a threat.
So maybe you don’t need to wait until you hit rock bottom to ask for vacation. Sometimes it’s enough to get away for a few days, change the scenery, and come back with a little less of a “don’t talk to me until further notice” face.