NEWS BRIEF: Get those “vacay vibes” in your own backyard

Most mental health experts agree that vacations are good for our overall health and well-being.

Indeed, we tend to feel happier and more relaxed when we can get away from the worry and toll of daily life.

Of course, very few of us manage to carve out more than a week or two away from the daily grind each year. But researchers recently wondered if there’s a way to get those beneficial “vacay vibes” and well-being boost—without ever leaving home?

For this investigation, they divided more than 400 working American adults, ages 20 to 72, into two groups. They told the first group, which served as the “control” group, to spend their weekend at home as they normally would—doing chores, shopping, and running errands.

But they told the second group to treat their weekend like a vacation. This group didn’t leave home for the weekend experiment. And they were encouraged to think and behave as if they were on vacation.

It turns out, those who enjoyed this “staycation” didn’t spend a lot more money than their peers. And they didn’t even drastically change their routine over the weekend.

Yet, when they returned to work on Monday, they reported feeling significantly happier than those who treated the weekend as they normally would have. They also said they enjoyed their weekend more than the control group.

The researchers think getting this kind of boost from your weekend time off comes down to making a “mental shift,” allowing yourself to embrace the free time, and doing more of the things you enjoy.

So, this month, in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, why not put a “staycation” on the calendar? Fill it with all the things you enjoy—whether it’s meeting up with friends, going on a hike, sleeping in, or taking a cooking class. (See page 7 to discover how participating in new learning experiences can shave 30 years off your brain’s age.)

Whatever you choose to do (or not do!) during your staycation, I hope you feel refreshed, recharged, and ready to reconnect come Monday—whether you’re still working or not. (Yes, retirees need a mental “reset,” too!)

And please, why don’t you drop me a line letting me know how it went? Email me: [email protected].

Reference:

1. “Happiness from Treating the Weekend like a Vacation.” Social Psychological and Personality Science, 2020. (static1.squarespace.com/static/5e270ffe949f6c4d0d0fcc55/t/5ee798d8b5e129712d9e5537/1592236249698/2020+West+Mogilner+DeVoe+SPPS-Vacations.pdf)