HOW MANY TIMES A YEAR SHOULD YOU GO ON VACATION? Experts revealed

Many people view their annual vacation as an event that is carefully planned months in advance, often during the summer, when days off are combined for a trip to the sea or further afield. However, a new analysis suggests that this approach may not be the most effective for stress recovery. According to a 2025 study, shorter and more frequent holidays could be much more beneficial than one long annual vacation. In a paper titled 'Maximizing Recovery: The Superiority of Frequent Vacations,' expert Selvaraj Giridharan from the Department of Oncology at Tawam Hospital in Abu Dhabi advises employees to take shorter breaks every few months. The goal of these regular breaks is to improve stress recovery and reduce the risk of burnout at work. As reported by 'Health and Me,' 'research suggests that regular breaks help people mentally distance themselves from work, recover faster, and maintain better emotional well-being in the long term.' One of the key findings of the study is that the positive effects of a vacation disappear within a few weeks of returning to work. 'We emphasize how regular vacations facilitate recovery and improve well-being, thereby reducing stress and improving performance,' Giridharan points out. In this regard, the authors believe that more frequent vacations could be more beneficial because they allow for easier mental detachment from work obligations.