Do you remember the last time you got back from a holiday. How long did that holiday after go? Last? For? Maybe a month or more like a week, or maybe an hour. New research shows that a well planned getaway can boost your well being for up to forty three days after you've unpacked your suitcase. But not all breaks
are created equal. Today, I'm going to share with you the surprising science behind maximizing your time off, including why that expensive cooking class might be a waste, how mixing home and away time creates the perfect formula, and the number one factor that determines whether your holiday benefits last for days or well over a month. Welcome to How I WI, a show about habits, rituals, and strategies for optimizing your day. I'm your host, doctor Amantha imber So.
I just got back from three nights down the coast, where I naturally tried to optimize for well being benefits morning beach walks for natural daylight exposure shortly after aking. Yep, did that strategic coffee consumption time perfectly between cortisol peaks? Yeah, obviously, methodically alternating between fiction and nonfiction reading to balance my cognitive load. Yes, indeed, But then I stumbled across this new research, and I've discovered that I've been missing a trick.
It turns out that those coastal benefits have the potential to continue working their magic for up to six weeks after returning to work, which means there's a whole new dimension of post holiday wellbeing that I need to be paying attention to. So let me share with you what I wish i'd known for planning my getaway and how you can optimize your next break for the longest lasting
benefits possible. So new research published in the Journal of Applied Psychology analyzed thirty two different studies and found that while yes, our wellbeing does decline after returning to work from a holiday, it actually stays higher than pre holiday levels for quite some time. So how long you might be asking? Well? The researchers estimate the positive effects could last for up to forty three days, that is nearly six weeks of residual holiday goodness. But here's the thing.
Not all holidays are created equal, So what makes for the most beneficial break well? The data revealed some interesting findings. So first up, mixing home time plus a way time was far better at providing a greater well being boost than trips that are spent entirely away. Next, the researchers found that longer holidays gave people a bigger initial boost in well being once they're back, but there's a trade off because longer breaks showed a steeper well being decline afterwards,
kind of like the holiday equivalent of a sugar crash. Next, physical activity matters. So of all holiday activities that you could be doing, moving or doing some exercise delivered the strongest well being benefits. Now a couple of others. Complete disconnection is crucial, so mental detachment from work was the number one factor for maximizing holiday benefits. And finally, passive activities don't actually help all that much, so simply resting
without engaging in active pursuits minimal impact. So sorry, Netflix addicts, The science has spoken. But perhaps most surprising, or at least most surprising to me, learning new skills during holidays had virtually no effect on well being once you're back, So maybe skip that intensive cooking class and just enjoy a beach walk instead. So, in summary, here's how you can make your next holiday really count based on the research.
Here are three evidence backed ways to maximize your next break. First, truly disconnect. That means set that out of office and meet it. Second, get physical, prioritize movement over passive relaxation, and three mix home and away time, So consider a staycation for part of your leave and for people managing teams.
The researchers emphasize really creating an environment where there are no perceived penalty for taking time off because holiday benefits can only happen when people actually feel comfortable taking leave. So the next time you're planning even a short break, remember it's not just about optimizing those precious days away. It's about engineering a six week wellbeing runway after your return. So think of your holiday as the gift that keeps
on giving long after you've unpacked your suitcase. The ultimate productivity investment isn't a new time management app. It might just be that holiday you've been putting off. If you like today's show, make sure you hit follow on your podcast app to be alerted when new episodes drop. How I Work was recorded on the traditional land of the Warringery people, part of the Cooler Nation. A big thank you to Martin Nimber for doing the sound mix.