Are Americans Vacation Deprived?

More and more Americans admit 2021 will be the year of taking more meaningful vacations.

Every year, Expedia studies balancing work vs. vacation from around the world. Their study is called Vacation Deprivation because it is meant to bring awareness to our precious time off that we are not using.

They started their annual study years ago to illustrate the benefit of taking a vacation and to encourage us to “unplug”. They want to educate and empower us to take back our vacation time.

Could you use some time away?

For many Americans 2020 meant being confined working from home, schooling from home and even vacationing all under one roof at home.

In 2021 Americans are optimistic about using their vacation time, with 32% vowing to take more vacation days than usual to make up for the lost time in 2020.

Expedia’s study results found that people’s desire for travel has not diminished, in fact 66 percent of people were inspired to create a travel “bucket list”. What people want from their vacation time is to be with friends and not be confined and controlled.

The survey taken by Expedia reports 64% of Americans call themselves “vacation deprived” this year.

This has enormous consequences on your health and happiness.

One landmark Framingham Heart Study showed that men who did not take a vacation for several years were 30% more likely to have a heart attack than men who take their vacation.

Women who did not take a vacation in 6 years were 8 times more likely to have a heart attack or develop coronary artery disease, compared to women who vacation at least twice a year according to research from the Centers for Disease Control.

Taking your vacation is good for your health.

Americans returning from vacation are:

happier (96 percent)

better rested (93 percent)

less stressed (94 percent)

more productive (46 percent)

more focused (40 percent)

More than half of Americans studied feel that being vacation deprived results in decreased productivity.

“This study confirms what we already know – taking time off is critical piece of living a happy balanced life” Nisreen Atassi for Expedia.com.