Vacations are an investment: Psychologist reveals keys to good breaks

Taking regular breaks from work is not a luxury but a crucial investment in mental and emotional health, according to organizational psychology expert Isabela Ferraz Fiore.

While many Mexicans utilize summer for vacations, Fiore notes that numerous workers fail to benefit fully, either postponing breaks due to workload or returning more exhausted than before. She emphasizes that adequate rest is fundamental for preserving workers' mental and emotional health and directly impacts their job performance.

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Although there is no ideal frequency that applies to everyone, I recommend taking vacations at least twice a year every four to six months, through short periods of preventive rest.

Fiore recommends taking vacations at least twice a year, with breaks spaced every four to six months. These shorter, preventive rest periods help avoid reaching a state of extreme fatigue, which can lead to chronic physical and mental illnesses requiring longer recovery times. She suggests each vacation should last at least a week, ideally between 7 and 14 days, to allow for genuine recuperation.

Research supports this recommendation. A 2014 study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies found that mental well-being and energy recovery peak on the eighth consecutive day of rest. For Fiore, vacations are an investment that enhances performance, creativity, concentration, emotional regulation, and problem-solving abilities, thereby reducing errors and accidents.

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For the benefits of rest to be effective, each vacation period should last at least one week, as during the first few days the body and mind are still disengaging from the work rhythm.