Canadians feel ‘vacation-deprived’
Respondents feel trips are hugely important to their overall well-being
A national survey from Expedia.ca, an online travel provider, finds Canadians view vacations as medicine for the body, mind and soul, but, increasingly, are either feeling they do not have enough vacation time, or they are not using some or all of it. Ninety-three per cent of respondents said they feel relaxed and rejuvenated when they get home from a vacation. Eighty-seven per cent say they feel closer to their partners or their family, and 78 per cent report being more focused at work after a vacation. The survey found 80 per cent of respondents associate vacationing with their overall happiness and slightly more than half as many say it affects their happiness “a great deal.” Vacationing was chosen as the No. 1 experience for generating happiness, by about half the respondents, far more than finding money (16 per cent), getting a tax refund (13 per cent), or celebrating your birthday (7 per cent). According to the survey’s authors, Dr. David Posen, stress specialist and author of Is Work Killing You?, isn’t surprised by the survey results and reaffirms the important health benefits of taking a vacation. “We really feel the physical and mental benefits of even a brief getaway,” Dr. Posen is reported as saying. “Vacations can lower blood pressure and ease stress and tension in the body. They give us the time to reconnect with spouses, partners, family members and friends, and we return to work rejuvenated and better able to focus. “And all of that translates into stronger feelings of well-being. “Vacations are a prescription for health, stress relief, more energy, improved productivity and overall happiness.” On average, Canadians say they’ll take 15 vacation days this year, down from 17 days last year. Nearly one in five (18 per cent) say they won’t take all the vacation days they are entitled to in 2014, and 13 per cent say they’ll take less time off this year than last (up from 9 per cent in 2013).
The majority of those surveyed who feel vacation-deprived (59 per cent) say it’s because they don’t get enough vacation time. Canadians say they need, on average, an additional eight days to be satisfied with their yearly vacation allotment (for a total average annual allotment of 24 days).
“Vacation deprivation is clearly on the rise,” Sean Shannon, managing director of Expedia Canada is quoted as saying. “Roughly half of Canadians surveyed report feeling somewhat or very vacation-deprived, up from 40 per cent who felt that way last year.”
Work demands often play a role for not using all of one’s vacation time; almost four in 10 respondents say they have cancelled or postponed vacation plans because of work. And 38 per cent say they regularly or constantly check work email and/or voicemail while on vacation (up from 27 per cent last year).
The survey found 90 per cent of Canadians would be willing to make sacrifices for more vacation time.
The study, conducted for Expedia.ca by Northstar, a consulting firm, polled 1,001 Canadian adults, aged 18 and older, who are employed or selfemployed.