Holiday Planning Happiness: Constant work exhausts our bodies and causes various problems. Let's tell you which trip is best: a long trip or a short one?

How many days off is most beneficial?

How Many Days Vacation Is Ideal For Mental Health: Dreaming of a beach trip, tracking flights, buying new clothes, and exploring new places to eat—do all these things bring you joy? If so, it's not just emotion, but science as well. Research shows that taking periodic vacations helps reduce stress and improve mental health. Let's find out what experts have to say about this.

The right time for holidays

Nowadays, most people are unable to take long vacations due to work pressures and try to pack everything into the weekend. However, studies show that the correct duration of the vacation is also crucial. According to research, a short trip of 3 to 4 days is sufficient to refresh the body, while an 8-day vacation is considered better for deep relaxation. A study by the University of Queensland, Australia, found that shorter vacations are more beneficial because people often engage in work-related tasks during longer vacations. This means that the benefit isn't just about the time, but how you spend it.

What did the research reveal?

Research also shows that people who take vacations have lower blood pressure and heart rates than those who don't. According to a 2025 study, short, frequent vacations are more effective in maintaining long-term mental balance. If you think vacations are just for fun, they're not. Experts believe that constant work can gradually lead to chronic stress, which can cause both mental and physical problems. This is why taking a vacation is a form of recovery.

Happy holiday planning

Interestingly, it's not just the vacation itself that brings happiness, but also the planning for it. According to a survey, nearly 97 percent of people admitted that planning a trip makes them happier. This means that even having a vacation date on the calendar can improve their mood. Another study found that people are happier with experiences than with material possessions. This means that instead of buying something expensive, traveling somewhere brings long-lasting happiness with its memories.

What do experts say?

According to Dr. Jessica de Bloom, a professor at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, people's happiness and well-being improve rapidly during vacation, but this effect gradually diminishes once they return to work. This is why experts recommend taking frequent, short vacations.