- Why your “relaxing” vacation barely takes the edge off
- What Europeans understand about rest that Americans don’t
- A science-backed case for taking more intentional time off
- My simple 8-PTO-day summer vacation hack you can actually use
♟️ MY TURN:
Have you ever taken a vacation and it looks like this:
- spend the first 3 days trying to come down from work stress
- finally get a day settling into a new pace
- only to find the vacation winding down and the stress starts to build as you think about re-entering work again as the week comes to a close?
This is the flaw of the approach of vacations in the US.
We look at vacations as “squeezed in” between long federal holiday weekends and a single vacation a summer.
Now I know this is an extremely privileged position to talk from and something I now struggle with myself because I have a FT job with a boss and a team and a US-based approach to vacation.
But after a two week vacation in Japan where I was able to fully immerse myself in the culture and enjoy a vacation unlike any other I’ve ever taken…..
I realized something.
Europeans have figured this out.
Many Europeans take the entire month of August off.
The origin: taking August off stems from ancient Roman harvest festivals (Feriae Augusti) and were solidified by the Industrial Revolution for factory shutdowns, becoming mandatory breaks for rest, especially around Italy's Ferragosto (Aug 15) celebrating Mary's Assumption, leading to widespread closures and travel, particularly in Southern Europe, for beach/mountain trips, though now also influenced by modern labor laws.
Modern Practices:
- Italy (Ferragosto): August 15th remains a huge national holiday, with many Italians taking the entire month off, flocking to beaches and mountains, leaving cities deserted.
- France & Others: Similar shutdowns occur, with August being a key vacation month for many workers, though sometimes regulated to keep essential services running.
- The "Construction Holiday": In the Netherlands, a three-week break in late July/early August is common, with staggered regional holidays
European vacation policy guarantees a minimum of four weeks (20 working days) of paid time off (PTO) for all workers under the EU Working Time Directive, but most countries offer more, with many providing 25+ days, plus public holidays, and some even reaching 30 days or more, varying by country and sometimes tenure, like France (often 30 days), UK (28 days), Spain (22-25 days).
Unlimited PTO in the US doesn't have a set number of days; it's flexible, but data shows US employees typically take 12-16 days off.
Most of the used (US) vacation days are dispersed around long weekends and..... they aren't enough. We need longer breaks for:
Mental & Physical Restoration
- Burnout Prevention: Longer breaks help truly disconnect, combating the exhaustion and detachment from work burnout.
- Stress Reduction: Extended time away allows the nervous system to calm, reducing chronic stress, anxiety, and depression.
- Cognitive Recharge: Stepping away gives your brain space to process, unclutter, and generate new ideas, improving decision-making and creativity.
Enhanced Productivity & Performance
- Improved focus: A well-rested mind is more focused, engaged, and able to tackle complex problems.
- Increased Creativity: Exposure to new environments and experiences during longer trips sparks innovation and fresh perspectives.
- Resilience: Detaching from work makes you more resilient when facing future stressors.
Deeper Life Benefits
- Stronger Relationships: Time off allows for quality connection with family and friends, enriching life beyond work.
- Better Health Outcomes: Vacations are linked to better sleep, improved mood, and even cardiovascular health.
- Rebuilding life: Longer breaks are crucial for rebuilding personal life, pursuing hobbies, and engaging in restorative activities that a few days can't cover
So it got me thinking…..
If you get unlimited PTO….what is stopping you from taking a longer break?
My hope for you this summer: 8 consecutive days off.
And here's how I would do it......
♟️ YOUR TURN:
Steal my 8-Day PTO Vacation Hack
If you have ~20 days of PTO (or “unlimited” PTO that you’re too scared to fully use), here’s a structure to turn 8 PTO days into 12 days of real rest.
The goal:
- Two full weekends
- A real week off
- Re-entry buffer days so you don’t undo your vacation in 24 hours
Here’s the breakdown:
Step 1: Front-load your exit
- Leave: Thursday after work (no PTO used yet)
- PTO Day 1: Friday
- Weekend 1: Saturday + Sunday
You’ve already bought yourself 3 ½ days of downtime with just one PTO day.
Step 2: Take a real week off
- PTO Days 2–6: Monday through Friday
This becomes the heart of your trip.....the part where you finally forget what day it is.
Step 3: Soak in Weekend #2
- Weekend 2: Saturday + Sunday
No Slack. No “I’ll just peek.”
Just letting your nervous system realize it’s safe to stay calm because you buffered.....
Step 4: Protect your re-entry
​Most people fly home Sunday and “hit the ground running” Monday. That’s how you destroy all the gains you just made.
Instead:
- Travel home: Sunday
- PTO Days 7–8: Monday + Tuesday at home
Use those two days to:
- Unpack
- Do laundry
- Restock groceries
- Ease back into your time zone
- Look at your calendar and intentionally plan your first week back
- Look at emails and scan for urgency
Return to work: Wednesday
Now you’re walking back into your life gently, not crash-landing into an inbox inferno.
Net result:
- 12 days of actual space (two weekends, plus the week in the middle)
- Only 8 PTO days used
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And if you have ~20 days total, you still have 12 days left for:
- One “me day” a month
- Or another mini-break later in the year
What do you think?
Feasible or not with your employer?