WASHINGTON — A good vacation can be recharging, but it doesn’t last.
A workplace survey by D.C.-based the American Psychological Association says two-thirds of working adults feel the benefits of time off dissipates within the first few days of returning to work.
Nearly a quarter say the positive effects of vacation time — such as more energy and feeling less stress — disappear immediately upon returning to work.
Even so, the APA says time off is not an option.
“We know from psychological science that you need particular recovery experiences. You need time when you’re not working, when you’re not thinking about work. You need time when you’re relaxing and engaging in non-work activities and when you’re getting enough sleep,” Dr. David Ballard Ballard, at the APA told WTOP.
Vacation benefits tend to last longer at companies that encourage workers to use the vacation time they have coming to them.
“When the culture supports employees in taking time off they are more likely to have the necessary stress recovery experiences. They are more likely to report that they are experiencing benefits like better mood, more energy, better job performance when they come back,” Ballard said.
Only 41 percent of U.S. worker reported that their organization’s culture encourages employees to take time off.
Americans are also pretty bad at unplugging when they can.
The APA survey found 21 percent of workers feel tense or stressed out while in vacation and 28 percent say they wind up working more than they planned while on vacation.
Forty-two percent of workers the APA surveyed said they dread going back to work after a vacation.
