Experts reveal how long you should really be going on holiday for – and it’s shorter than you think
EXPERTS have revealed the ideal length of time for people to go away on holiday – and it’s shorter than some people might first assume.
When it comes to going away, a lot of people assume that longer is better, but that’s not always the case.
In fact, going away for a while can end up causing other problems, with work piling up back at the office, making a return more difficult.
Therefore it’s important for holidaymakers to strike the perfect balance between getting away, but not staying too long.
Experts have now explained the length of time they believe to be most beneficial for people to go on holiday and avoid work.
Dr Divna Haslam, a clinical psychologist and senior research fellow at the Queensland University of Technology told ABC Au it could be just over a week, or even shorter.
She said: “Some studies have found that wellbeing peaks on day eight, whereas others have found more frequent shorter holidays are better.
“Adding on to long weekends for four-day day breaks may be particularly beneficial, as work does not have too much time to build up and impact return workloads.
“But it is enough time to get away, which helps improve detachment.”
Divna isn’t the only supporter of shorter holidays either.
Last summer a mum sparked a debate online, saying she hates going away for two weeks.
In a post on parenting forum Mumsnet, the parent complained that European or beach holidays that last two weeks are far longer than anyone would ever need.
She wrote: “Every single time we go on a European sun/beach/villa/complex type holiday, we book it for 14 days and every single time I get to about day 10 and am fed up and want to be at home.”
The mum said that while there was “nothing to complain about” on her holiday she wished she would be flying home early so she could have “a few days at home in my own bed before going back to work”.
Research has previously suggested that holidaymakers get just nine days of complete enjoyment from a two week break.
Experts identified a ‘window of relaxation’ which starts two days into a fortnight’s holiday, and ends three days before you get home.
Instead of enjoying their full holiday, during these five unfulfilling days Brits find it impossible to switch off from the stresses of work and home life.
Four in 10 adults admit they continue to check work emails and make work calls throughout their break – with one in 20 checking their emails as soon as they wake up each day.
Meanwhile, some holidaymakers think that half of the fun of going away is the planning and packing rather than the trip.
And this mum explained why she was dreading going on her holiday at all.