Latest news with #JournalofAppliedPsychology
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Exact length of time you stay happy after a holiday revealed – and it's MUCH longer than previously thought
HOLIDAY happiness lasts up to six weeks after we get home, according to a study. Researchers found our 1 A new study proves it is important for staff to take holidays as the after-effects can last for weeks Credit: Getty It means The US research analysed data from 32 previous studies that tracked people's wellbeing before and after a holiday from work. It found they took more than six weeks to return to usual stress levels — double the three weeks recorded previously. No specific type of holiday was best but people were happier if they could disconnect from work and do physical activities such as hiking, sightseeing or snorkelling. READ MORE ON STRESS Longer breaks were typically more relaxing but the benefits recorded afterwards dropped off more steeply. Study author Ryan Grant, a PhD student at the University of Georgia , said: 'Vacations create longer-lasting benefits than previously thought. 'Job demands and job stress are on the rise but people think that they can't take time off because they don't want to look bad or lose out on an opportunity for promotion. 'We think working more is better, but we actually perform better by taking care of ourselves. Most read in Health "We need to break up these intense periods of work with intense periods of rest and recuperation.' Writing in the Journal of Applied Psychology, he said of holiday highs: 'The decrease is not as steep and fleeting as previously thought. Five stunning, little-known holiday destinations 'If you're not at work but you're thinking about work on vacation, you might as well be at the office . 'Vacations are one of the few opportunities we get to fully just disconnect from work.' Most full-time employees in the UK are entitled to 28 days of annual leave per year. Brits go abroad a combined 86million times a year and millions of us also take Our favourite destinations for a foreign holiday, according to the Office for National Statistics, are Spain, France, Italy and Greece.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
If You Marry A Man Without Ambition You'll End Up With These Resentments
In a world where ambition is often touted as the golden ticket to success, you might find yourself questioning what happens when your partner lacks that forward drive. It's not just about career aspirations or financial goals; it's about the spirit of curiosity, growth, and purpose. Marrying someone without ambition can lead to a quiet build-up of resentments that erode the foundation of your relationship. Here are thirteen ways these hidden discontents might manifest, and why they deserve your attention. Without a partner who shares a sense of ambition, you may find yourself constantly trying to ignite their spark. The burden of being the perpetual cheerleader can become exhausting, especially when you're already juggling your own dreams and responsibilities. Psychologist Dr. Terri Orbuch, in her book "5 Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage from Good to Great," emphasizes the importance of mutual enthusiasm for shared growth. If you're always the one pushing for more, you might start to feel more like a parent than a partner. Over time, this dynamic can leave you feeling depleted, questioning whether your relationship is truly a partnership. You might start to resent your partner's complacency, feeling like your shared life is stuck in neutral. This isn't just about financial or social mobility; it's about building a life together that feels vibrant and forward-moving. When you're the only one steering the ship, it can become increasingly difficult to enjoy the journey. Ambition often reflects deeper values such as growth, exploration, and self-improvement. When your partner lacks this drive, it might signal a mismatch in how you both view life and its possibilities. This divide can create a chasm that widens over time, as you pursue new experiences and they remain static. The difference in values can become more pronounced with each unshared dream or unexplored opportunity. As you evolve, you may find that your partner's stagnation feels like an anchor, holding you back from your own potential. The resentment grows when you realize that what you consider essential to your happiness is not reciprocated. This misalignment can lead to feelings of loneliness, even when you're together. You crave a partner who not only understands your ambitions but shares them to some degree, creating a dynamic of mutual growth. Watching someone you love fail to realize their potential can be an emotional drain. You see their talents and capabilities, yet their lack of action creates a sense of wasted opportunity. According to a study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology by Judge and Kammeyer-Mueller, there's a strong correlation between personal achievement and life satisfaction. When your partner isn't tapping into their potential, it might feel like a silent refusal of the future you envisioned together. This can manifest as frustration or disappointment, feelings that, when left unchecked, can sour the relationship. It becomes difficult to celebrate your own achievements when you're constantly reminded of what your partner hasn't achieved. Over time, rather than feeling like a team, you may feel like you're running a race with a teammate who's unwilling to move. This emotional burden can drain the joy out of your shared life, turning potential into regret. In any partnership, shared goals act as the glue that keeps you both aligned and moving forward. Without ambition, your partner may seem disinterested in setting or pursuing common objectives. This can lead to feelings of drifting apart, as you find yourself chasing dreams that your partner doesn't seem to value. The lack of shared vision can make the relationship feel unanchored and aimless. Not setting goals together can lead to a life lived in parallel, not in unity. It can be disheartening to realize that while you're plotting out the next five years, your partner is content with the status quo. This discrepancy can lead to resentment, as you feel your efforts to build a future are unappreciated or unsupported. A relationship without shared goals can quickly become one where you're simply coexisting. Ambition often drives individuals to seek out new experiences, cultures, and social settings. When your partner lacks this drive, it can create a gap in your cultural and social experiences. Sociologist Dr. Marianne Cooper's research on social dynamics indicates that exposure to diverse experiences enhances empathy and adaptability. Without this, you might feel your world becoming smaller, limited by your partner's reluctance to engage with the world. This gap can lead to a sense of isolation, as you find yourself yearning for shared adventures and deeper cultural connections. You may start to explore these experiences on your own, which can create further distance between you and your partner. Over time, this lack of shared cultural enrichment can lead to feelings of boredom and dissatisfaction. A rich, expansive social life becomes difficult to achieve with a partner who lacks the ambition to explore it with you. While love isn't about money, the reality is that financial stability often reflects ambition and hard work. When your partner doesn't share the same drive to improve your financial situation, it can lead to strain and resentment. Feeling like you're shouldering the financial burden alone can be isolating and stressful. It's not just about who brings home more income, but rather about the shared effort to create a stable, fulfilling life. The unequal contribution can lead to power imbalances and feelings of insecurity about the future. This can also impact the way you plan for significant milestones, such as buying a home or starting a family. Over time, the financial imbalance can become a source of tension, breeding resentment and dissatisfaction. A relationship thrives on partnership, both in love and in building a shared life. Ambition often comes hand-in-hand with a thirst for knowledge and intellectual growth. When your partner lacks ambition, they might also lack the curiosity that makes for stimulating conversation and shared intellectual pursuits. Research by the American Psychological Association highlights the importance of intellectual compatibility in long-term relationship satisfaction. Without this element, you might feel your conversations becoming mundane and routine. This absence of intellectual engagement can leave you feeling unfulfilled, as if an essential part of your relationship is missing. It's not about holding academic debates at the dinner table; it's about feeling challenged and inspired by each other's thoughts and insights. Over time, the lack of intellectual connection can become stifling, leading to feelings of boredom and stagnation. An ambitious partner often brings a spark of curiosity that keeps the relationship vibrant and dynamic. Ambition isn't just about external achievements; it's about emotional growth and resilience. Without it, your partner may lack the drive to improve emotional intelligence or navigate the complexities of a deep partnership. This can result in a lack of emotional depth and understanding, leading to feelings of disconnection. An emotionally ambitious partner seeks to continuously deepen and enrich the emotional landscape of the relationship. Over time, this emotional stagnation can lead to feelings of loneliness and frustration. You may find yourself wishing for conversations that delve beyond the superficial, yearning for an emotional connection that feels substantial and real. When your partner isn't interested in fostering this kind of growth, it can feel like you're investing in a relationship that can't fully support you. Emotional ambition is just as crucial as any other form of drive, offering the foundation for a lasting partnership. Time is perhaps the most valuable asset we have, and ambition helps us make the most of it. When your partner lacks ambition, it can feel like the clock is ticking away, with little to show for it. This sense of wasted time can create anxiety and regret, as you wonder what could have been achieved with a partner who shares your sense of urgency. The weight of lost time becomes a silent companion, overshadowing your relationship with what-ifs. This feeling can seep into every aspect of your life together, casting a shadow over milestones and successes. You may start to question the years spent waiting for change that never comes. When you're the only one invested in making the most of your time together, it can lead to feelings of isolation and disappointment. Ambition helps partners to seize the day, transforming time into shared memories and achievements. A truly successful partnership is built on mutual effort and shared aspirations. Without ambition, your partner may not contribute equally to the relationship's growth and success. This can create a diminishing sense of partnership, where you feel as though you're carrying the weight of the relationship alone. Over time, this imbalance can erode the very foundation of your partnership, leading to feelings of resentment and disillusionment. When one partner lacks ambition, it can feel as though you're on separate paths, rather than journeying together. The lack of shared effort can make the relationship feel less like a partnership and more like a solo endeavor. This can lead to feelings of disconnection and a growing sense of distance between you. A partnership should be a team effort, where both individuals are committed to nurturing and growing together. You likely entered the relationship with certain expectations of shared growth and achievement. When ambition is lacking, these expectations often go unmet, leading to frustration and disappointment. This can create tension as you grapple with the disparity between your hopes and the reality of your partner's complacency. Unmet expectations can be a silent killer of relationships, breeding dissatisfaction and resentment over time. As these unmet expectations accumulate, they can become a source of ongoing conflict. You might find yourself constantly hoping for a change that never comes, leading to a cycle of hope and disappointment. This cycle can be emotionally exhausting, wearing down the trust and intimacy you've worked to build. A relationship thrives on mutual fulfillment of expectations, creating a sense of shared achievement and satisfaction. When your partner lacks ambition, you may feel pressured to compromise your own dreams and goals to accommodate their stagnation. This can lead to feelings of resentment as you sacrifice your aspirations in favor of maintaining harmony in the relationship. Over time, these compromises can accumulate, leading to a sense of lost identity and purpose. This pressure to compromise can be a heavy burden, overshadowing the relationship with regrets and what-ifs. You may begin to question whether the relationship is worth the cost of your ambitions. The act of constantly shelving your dreams can feel like a betrayal of self, eroding your sense of self-worth and confidence. When one partner's lack of ambition necessitates compromise, it can lead to a crisis of identity and purpose. A fulfilling relationship should support, not hinder, the pursuit of personal ambitions and dreams. Intimacy thrives on mutual growth, shared dreams, and a sense of partnership. When your partner lacks ambition, it can create a disconnect that erodes intimacy over time. The absence of shared drive and goals can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness, even when you're together. This erosion of intimacy can create a sense of distance, making it difficult to maintain a deep and meaningful connection. Without ambition, the relationship may become stagnant, lacking the vibrancy and energy that comes from shared aspirations. Over time, this stagnation can lead to emotional and physical detachment, as the intimacy that once bonded you begins to fade. A relationship without ambition can feel like a ship adrift, lost in a sea of unmet potential and unfulfilled dreams. To maintain intimacy, both partners must be willing to grow, explore, and dream together.
New York Post
27-04-2025
- New York Post
The exact amount of vacation time you need for peak mental and physical health, according to experts
As if you needed an excuse to book a well-deserved trip, there are many health benefits to taking one. The many health benefits of packing a bag and getting on a flight have long been reported. However, according to a recent study in the Journal of Applied Psychology that reviewed previous findings on the same topic, there are immediate effects on one's mental and physical health than previously thought, as reported by the Washington Post. Advertisement So, how often and for how long should people be packing their bags and hopping on a flight to feel the mental and physical benefits? One study found that vacationers who took a trip once a year for several consecutive years — nine to be exact — increased their longevity by approximately 20%. Those same people also reduce their risk of dying from heart-related conditions by 30%. Taking a week-long vacation once a year is ideal, according to studies. Getty Images Advertisement That one vacation a year formula also reduces high blood pressure, lowers blood sugar levels and maintains cholesterol and triglycerides levels — all things that can lead to serious heart conditions if ignored. Research conducted by Brooks B. Gump, a professor of public health at Syracuse University and his colleagues said that vacation-goers overall reduce their metabolic syndrome — a cluster of things that can contribute to heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes — by 25%. According to the studies, a week off is ideal, but even short vacations have health benefits. Researchers have found that those who change up their scenery — even for a few days — don't regularly feel as stressed, tired or depressed compared to those who barely use their PTO. 'Vacations provide a buffer against chronic stress and inflammation — both of which wreak havoc on the body,' Gump told the Washington Post. Advertisement Talk about a win. Lastly, traveling allows people to — hopefully — catch up on some much-needed sleep. Vacationing is a great way to disconnect and take some much needed rest. Getty Images 'My guess is that if someone doesn't sleep a lot at home, then sleeping someplace new might be an opportunity to catch up,' said study co-author Sune Lehmann, professor of social data science at the University of Copenhagen, according to the outlet. Advertisement Despite all of these great benefits of vacationing — millennials are the ones who feel the most guilt when taking time off. A survey conducted by YouGov on behalf of iced tea brand Halfday revealed that 58% of US millennials do not take a day off without feeling bad about it. However, only 55% of Gen Zers felt self-inflicted guilt. And boomers have no problem booking a vacation, as less than half of the generation born between 1946 and 1964 felt guilty about using their PTO days.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Why taking a vacation is good for you
Vacations can sometimes seem like more trouble than they're worth when you come home to a full inbox and a fire hose of problems requiring immediate attention. But people who skip vacations may be missing out on important health benefits, according to a growing body of research linking regular getaways to everything from better heart health to a lower risk of metabolic disorders and even a longer life. A 2025 review of 32 previous studies in the Journal of Applied Psychology also found that the immediate effects on well-being are more profound and long-lasting than previously thought. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. Among the findings in one longitudinal study that followed more than 12,000 men at high risk of coronary heart disease: Those who took a vacation every year over a nine-year period reduced their overall risk of death by about 20 percent and their risk of death from heart disease by as much as 30 percent, according to the study's main author, Brooks B. Gump, a professor of public health at Syracuse University, who studies the health effects of taking vacations. In other research, Gump and his colleagues found a similar connection between the frequency of vacations and metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions - high blood pressure, high blood sugar, a large waist circumference, low HDL ('good') cholesterol and high triglycerides - that raise the risk of heart attacks, stroke and diabetes. Each additional vacation the participants took lowered the risk of metabolic syndrome by nearly 25 percent. Other researchers have identified links between taking vacations and fewer stress-related physical complaints, lower levels of exhaustion and depression, and greater happiness and well-being. Even short breaks have health payoffs. When middle managers were assigned to either take a four-day vacation or take time off at home, those who left town reported greater positive effects on stress and well-being, according to researchers at Austria's University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology. And unlike a tan line, the vacation 'afterglow' continued for as long as 45 days post-vacation. - - - Bedroom benefits Not surprisingly, vacations may also help pay down a sleep debt, long associated with a greater risk of obesity and diabetes, a 2022 study in Nature Human Behavior suggests. Researchers relied on data collected from Sony SmartBands worn by some 20,000 people, covering 218,000 nights of travel, some of which may have been for business. Among the travelers, people who were sleep-deprived - sleeping less than 7.5 hours a night - clocked more hours of sleep when they were away from home. (People who typically got more than 7.5 hours nightly tended to sleep less well on the road.) 'My guess is that if someone doesn't sleep a lot at home, then sleeping someplace new might be an opportunity to catch up,' said study co-author Sune Lehmann, professor of social data science at the University of Copenhagen. People who usually sleep well may miss the routines that help them doze off at home, he said. A 2024 study by American and Dutch researchers found that couples who take vacations that involve novel, interesting or challenging experiences keep the romantic spark in their relationships, resulting in more physical intimacy afterward. 'Passion can fade even in good relationships,' said study author John K. Coffey, associate professor of psychology at Arizona State University. 'But the more new experiences couples had during their vacation, the greater their passion and physical intimacy were after the vacation.' The key, he said, is to engage in activities that satisfy the innate need to learn and grow, a concept known as self-expansion. You don't have to 'go big' with an expensive adventure, he said. Exploring a new city, visiting a museum or trying different cuisines can make a difference. Even bad experiences like getting lost or missing a connection can bring you closer. Coffey acknowledged that other factors could account for the intimacy boost. Having the leisure and wealth to travel in the first place might reduce a couple's stress, leading to a better sex life. More than the immediate rewards, 'vacations provide a buffer against chronic stress and inflammation - both of which wreak havoc on the body,' said Gump. Vacationing turns off the spigot of stress hormones like cortisol and allows the body to reset, restoring equilibrium, he said. With a total break from work, 'you regain lost psychological resources like energy and positive mood and emotions,' said Ryan Grant, a doctoral student at the University of Georgia and lead author of the vacation aftereffects review study. Vacations that involve physical activity and socializing with family or friends can be particularly good, he said, since both have been shown to improve health outcomes. To ensure your vacation packs the maximum wellness punch, experts provided these tips: - Minimize engagement with work. 'During the vacation itself, it is key that [you] mentally disconnect from work as much as possible,' Grant said. Limit the time you spend taking work calls or answering email to once a day or less. This season of the TV series 'The White Lotus' provides a perfect example of how not disconnecting can be very bad for you. - Be active. Grant's meta-analysis found that engaging in physical activity during vacation was the top predictor of better health outcomes later. (Social activity was the second most important factor.) - If it's hard to get away for a single long vacation, schedule several short ones. Wellness benefits accrue regardless of a vacation's length, research has shown (though you may get a bigger boost the longer you are away). Some data suggests these benefits are less seen among people with high-stress jobs, however. - Savor the memories of your vacation to extend the afterglow. Jessica de Bloom, a professor of psychology and public health at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, who has led several studies investigating the effects of vacations on well-being, says this can be very helpful to health. Picture the whitecaps or perfect waves from when you were taking surfing lessons in Puerto Rico. Or try to duplicate the indescribable mole you tasted in Oaxaca, Mexico, and feel the pleasure and delight rush back, or remember the warm wind from an hour-long bike ride you took. 'Keeping a vacation diary or talking about the top three experiences of the vacation may help people to attend to and appreciate the positive vacation experience more,' de Bloom said. Regardless of the setting or circumstances, Grant said, it's the breaking up of intense periods of work with long periods of rest and recovery that makes the difference to health and well-being. 'We need vacations to take care of ourselves,' he said. Related Content Freedom Riders faced a mob at this bus station. DOGE wanted to sell it. The Abrego García case: A timeline and assessment of key documents Trump brushes aside courts' attempts to limit his power
The Age
21-04-2025
- Health
- The Age
The secret to living longer? You'll find it on holiday
Holidays can sometimes seem like more trouble than they're worth when you come home to a full inbox and a fire hose of problems requiring immediate attention. But people who skip holidays may be missing out on important health benefits, according to a growing body of research linking regular getaways to everything from better heart health to a lower risk of metabolic disorders and even a longer life. A 2025 review of 32 previous studies in the Journal of Applied Psychology also found that the immediate effects on wellbeing are more profound and long-lasting than previously thought. Among the findings in one longitudinal study that followed more than 12,000 men at high risk of coronary heart disease: Those who took a holiday every year over a nine-year period reduced their overall risk of death by about 20 per cent and their risk of death from heart disease by as much as 30 per cent, according to the study's main author, Brooks B. Gump, a professor of public health at Syracuse University, who studies the health effects of taking holidays. In other research, Gump and his colleagues found a similar connection between the frequency of holidays and metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions – high blood pressure, high blood sugar, a large waist circumference, low HDL ('good') cholesterol and high triglycerides – that raise the risk of heart attacks, stroke and diabetes. Each additional holiday the participants took lowered the risk of metabolic syndrome by nearly 25 per cent. Loading Other researchers have identified links between taking holidays and fewer stress-related physical complaints, lower levels of exhaustion and depression, and greater happiness and wellbeing. Even short breaks have health pay-offs. When middle managers were assigned to either take a four-day holiday or take time off at home, those who left town reported greater positive effects on stress and wellbeing, according to researchers at Austria's University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology. And unlike a tan line, the holiday 'afterglow' continued for as long as 45 days post-holiday. Sleep it off Not surprisingly, holidays may also help pay down a sleep debt, long associated with a greater risk of obesity and diabetes, a 2022 study in Nature Human Behaviour suggests. Researchers relied on data collected from Sony SmartBands worn by some 20,000 people, covering 218,000 nights of travel, some of which may have been for business. Among the travellers, people who were sleep-deprived – sleeping less than 7.5 hours a night – clocked more hours of sleep when they were away from home.
