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The Purpose of Vacation – Resting from Performance

What are you going to do on your vacation?

It’s a common question in break rooms at this time of year. Of course, the question is well-meaning and shows interest in our colleagues. At the same time, it often contains, more or less unconsciously, a focus on performance: plans, activities, and projects.

In this text, I want to pause and reflect on what vacation is for. And how can we prepare so that it truly becomes a time for rest?

The function of vacation is, at its core, the opposite of performance. It is meant to give us a break from work, obligations, and demands. During vacation, we should not have to perform. Vacation gives us the opportunity to recover and relax. At the same time, many of us know how easily even a vacation can turn into a performance. There are expectations about what should be accomplished, projects to be completed, trips to be carried out, and activities to be maximized. In the worst case, vacation risks becoming exhausting.

So how can we create better conditions for vacation to become the rest it is meant to be?

One important keyword is recovery. During vacation, it can be helpful to focus on things that help

you unwind. For some, it may be early morning walks; for others, time with friends, being in nature, playing an instrument, doing crafts, or simply having time for reflection. Recovery is individual. What feels restful for one person may be draining for another. For some, traveling is restorative, while others feel best staying at home and slowing down.

To facilitate recovery, it can be wise to prepare for vacation well in advance. If possible, try to plan the final working weeks so that the pace can gradually decrease. Create a bit more space in your calendar and make a realistic plan: What needs to be done before the holidays? What can wait until afterward? Remember that everything does not have to be finished when the vacation begins. Some work can wait.

It can also be helpful to write a list for the time after vacation. Note what needs to be prioritized when you return to work. This can make it easier to let go of work-related thoughts during your time off. The basic principle is simple but important: when we are on vacation, we are off—then we should not be working.

So perhaps this summer, in the break rooms, we can try asking each other a different question:

What will help you recover this summer?

Occupational health psychologist Josefina Öst