Managing Stress During Your Summer Vacation and Everyday Life: Slow Recipe's Guide to Well-Being

Last week, I finally took my long-awaited summer vacation. The moment I left work for the last time before my trip and got my hair done at the salon, it truly felt like my vacation had begun.

During my time off, I reconnected with high school friends, spent quality time with family, and enjoyed dates with my wife. From catching up with friends to shopping and simply relaxing at home, I was able to recharge in a variety of ways. It was a special time that helped me forget the stress I'd been accumulating and truly appreciate the small moments in life.

Early in my career, I used to count down the days to my summer vacation. It was a form of reward, but sometimes the pressure to complete every planned activity turned the vacation itself into another source of stress. On the last night, the thought of returning to work would keep me up. Through these experiences, I realized it's far more important to manage stress in my daily life rather than relying on vacation as the only escape.

These days, I try to spend my vacation with a focus on genuine rest and rejuvenation, rather than a jam-packed schedule. I've found that a more relaxed itinerary provides greater recovery and a deeper sense of calm than a meticulously planned one.

So, how does a temporary break like a vacation positively impact our well-being? In this post, let's explore the effect of vacations on well-being.

Many experts see vacations not just as time off, but as a period for true rejuvenation. They suggest that escaping from constant stress has positive effects on both psychological and physical well-being. I can attest to this—after a vacation, I return to work with more energy and a more positive mindset.

According to one study, well-being indicators remain higher after returning to work from a vacation, with this effect lasting for an average of 21 days, and up to 43 days. The research, which conducted a meta-analysis of 32 existing studies, included not only psychological factors like stress, burnout, life satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, and happiness, but also physical factors such as sleep quality, fatigue, and physical symptoms.

The study found that a longer vacation resulted in a greater increase in well-being during the trip, but this benefit tended to fade more quickly upon returning to work. Interestingly, what you do during your vacation made a significant difference in the well-being effect. The greatest boost in well-being came from completely disconnecting from work mentally, followed by focusing entirely on rest. Learning new skills during vacation, however, didn't have a noticeable impact on well-being.

Vacations that combined travel with time spent at home were more positive for well-being than those spent entirely away from home. Also, the positive effects of a trip lasted longer than those of a staycation. In terms of activities, physical activities had the greatest positive impact, followed by social activities. Passive activities, like simply resting, didn't show a significant effect on well-being.

However, vacation can't be the only solution for well-being. Consistently managing stress in your daily life is what truly maximizes the benefits of a vacation and improves your overall quality of life.

While vacations are great for our well-being, relying solely on two or three long trips a year isn't a healthy way to live. As the saying goes, "happiness is about frequency, not intensity." If you only live for a few big breaks, the majority of your daily life will be filled with heavy stress. If you're planning a "mega vacation" or a "powerful escape," I encourage you to ask yourself: Do I really need such a big break because I haven't found effective ways to manage stress in my everyday life?

It's crucial to find small ways to relieve stress every day—for even just a few minutes before you start work, during your workday, and after you get home. Whether it's a walk, a workout, a delicious meal, meeting up with people, or a hobby, anything that works for you is a good stress reliever.

By taking care of your mind and body a little bit each day, you'll be able to enjoy your vacation more deeply and with greater ease when the time comes. This also helps lessen the "culture shock" or the sense of dread that can come after a long break. Ultimately, a vacation is not just a temporary escape. It's an important part of achieving true well-being and recovery, especially when it's combined with consistent, daily stress management.

So, don't miss out on the small joys of everyday life, and make your vacations even more enjoyable and meaningful.

At Slow Recipe, we are dedicated to helping you live a happy and healthy life by curating and recommending innovative, under-the-radar brands and products. Try managing your daily stress and recovering from post-vacation fatigue with the products we recommend.

ONYOUBIO is a health supplement brand designed and developed by practicing pharmacists in Seoul. Based on scientific evidence, they select the essential nutrients for their customers' health concerns and provide them at a reasonable price with safe consumption methods. Effectively care for your inner health with their enzyme, collagen, and glutathione products.

Another Face is a "slow-aging" skincare brand that focuses on strengthening the skin barrier, maintaining moisture balance, and soothing the skin with its proprietary ingredient, "Peptanol." Protect your skin's health with their variety of products, including toners, serums, creams, and sunscreens.

Momur Weekend is a lifestyle and kitchenware brand created by a food stylist and a ceramics expert. With their cozy, vintage-inspired tableware and home goods, you can create a relaxing mealtime and naturally melt away the day's stress.

So, don’t just wait for your next big vacation to recharge. Enjoy your travels fully, but also bring the spirit of relaxation into your daily routine. With Slow Recipe’s mindful selections, you can manage stress, care for your well-being, and create small moments of joy every day—making both your vacation and everyday life more meaningful.