Feeling pretty good right about now. 2.5 weeks ago I left Toronto for Calgary, where I wedded my love Michelle Norquay (now Tirmandi), and on her advice promptly left for a honeymoon to Hawaii.
After a long, intense and trying winter, spring, 1/2 summer it was just what the doctor ordered.
Today I started to think about the value of these vacations and what they bring to ones life. Beyond feeling rested. I feel clear, strong, and have a renewed enthusiasm for regular life (including work).
I wondered if there had been empirical studies that document the value of vacation on one's happiness and performance. I found this article from HBR that did just that. Enjoy!
http://blogs.hbr.org/schwartz/2012/09/more-vacation-is-the-secret-sa.html
"A 2005 study of 15,000 women found that the risk of depression diminished dramatically as they took more vacation. A 2006 Ernst & Young study found that for each additional ten hours of vacation employees took, their performance reviews were 8 percent higher the following year."