Benefits of having a holiday

If you have decided to put your holiday plans on hold due to cost of living concerns and your work commitments, you are not the only one!

A 2022 study by software organisation, ELMO has found that 75% of Australian workers are avoiding taking their annual leave because of the rising cost of living and their workloads, with nearly 1 in 4 workers accruing more than 20 days of leave.

Unfortunately, avoiding annual leave is having a negative impact on many workers. In fact, a recent University of Melbourne study of 1,400 Australian workers found that 50% of workers aged between 18 and 54 reported feeling exhausted at work.

Taking holidays can have many positive benefits, so before you put aside your holiday plans for the remainder of 2023, consider the following:

Taking holidays leads to better mental and physical wellbeing

It is well-documented that taking a holiday can improve physical and mental wellbeing. Numerous studies have established holidays can decrease stress and burnout, as well as positively impacting overall longevity. A 2019 study by Syracuse University in the US found that people who holiday more frequently actually lower their risk of cardiovascular disease.

Anticipating a holiday can improve your mood

Even thinking about a holiday can boost your mood. A survey by market research company, Omnipoll found that just planning a trip can have a positive impact on your outlook, with 94% of respondents stating that their emotional wellbeing improved the moment they started dreaming about an upcoming holiday.

Holidays are good for the workplace

Taking holidays can also make you more valuable to your employer. A recent US study found that employees who take their annual leave are:

• 40% more productive
• 28% less likely to take sick leave
• 38% less prone to workplace accidents.

Another study by professional services firm, EY identified that employees who use more of their holidays had better performance reviews – and those who took more holidays stayed longer at the firm.

How to get the most out of your holiday

Holidays come in all shapes and sizes. There are beach holidays, camping holidays, farm stays, cruises, nature breaks, city breaks, holidays to visit family and friends, and many, many more. However, not all of these types of holidays are relaxing and stress-free.

Considerable research has been undertaken to understand how holidays can benefit those who take them. In particular, research conducted by the University of Queensland in 2020 identifies the key components of holidays that deliver ‘restorative benefits’. These include:

• Selecting a holiday environment which gives you the opportunity to be detached from your normal schedule and routines
• Engaging in activities that hold your attention without too much effort and allow you to relax
• Minimising time spent in work-like activities, such as driving, cooking, cleaning and using a phone or computer
• Purposely disconnecting from work.

There is also increasing understanding that short breaks away from home and work may provide more restorative benefits than longer holidays. Shorter breaks can be less stressful to plan and may be less intensive. People taking a short break are also less likely to face a large workload when they return to work as they may have only taken a few days off. Therefore, if you don’t have the time or financial resources for a longer break, think about taking a few shorter breaks during the year. Start planning!