6 days ago
How To Take A Guilt-Free Vacation Instead Of A Guilt Trip In 2025
Guilt-free vacations, devoid of work without a care in the world, have become an endangered species.
Summer brings lighter workloads and vacation vibes, yet many workers still struggle to switch off, many because of guilt. Last summer 47% of workers said they felt guilty for taking a vacation. A recent Headway survey of 2,000 employed adults found that one in three feel guilty for slowing down this summer, even when it's expected. And nearly half of workers feel guilty both for working on vacation and for not working, revealing a no-win burnout loop many can't escape. Experts to the rescue on five ways to take a guilt-free vacation.
5 Ways To Unplug And Take A Guilt-Free Vacation
In the age of AI many employees are afraid to take time off this summer because they're afraid management will judge them as slackers, and they'll be laid off next. In one study, 29% of employees cited layoff fears, making them hesitant to take time off this summer.
After witnessing the approximately 1.6 million workers laid off or discharged in May 2025 alone and the 8.4 million layoffs and discharges occurring in 2025 so far, employees are afraid of losing their jobs if they visibly show they are prioritizing their well-being.
Some workers are staying home, continuing to work through the summer. The tanking economy, jammed airports, travel disruptions, canceled flights and flight delays--plus lost luggage claims up 18%--are causing vacationers to rethink how they want to spend summer vacations. Others are taking workcations, and still others are taking "quiet vacations"--workarounds motivated primarily by fear, leading employees to take vacations on the downlow.
The Headway study reported that working on vacation has become the gold standard such that 66% of employees struggle to fully disconnect from work. And nearly half (49%) feel guilty if they don't check in or sacrifice free time for their team. As a result, 52% report burnout or depression, while two-thirds say their 'always-on' mentality has led to physical issues like headaches or chronic pain.
But no one should feel they must fake sick or feel guilty for taking time off from hard work that they're contractually entitled to have. Truth be told, we should be fitting work around vacations, not fitting vacations around work. 'Time off isn't indulgent; it's essential,' says Cindy Cavoto, certified productivity coach at the Headway app. 'Burnout stifles productivity, so if you're planning a summer vacation, here's how you can log off, chill out and leave the guilt at home.'
Are you one of the 47% of Americans refusing vacations altogether, because it's too stressful to plan a big getaway. Or are you concerned you might send corporate honchos the image you're not a team player? If so, the five go-to tips Cavoto gave me for cutting yourself some slack, switching off and enjoying summer, guilt-free vibes might be your cup of tea.
'As the temperature rises, our productivity dips. We sit in our stuffy offices pretending to work, only to feel frustrated when nothing gets ticked off the to-do list,' according to Cavato, who asks, 'What's the point?' She advocates ditching the shirt, grabbing your sunglasses and making the most of the sunshine. When the sun dips and the heat subsides in the evening, Cavato says you can pick up the slack and get far more done, plus, you won't feel like summer has passed you by.
Before you swap meetings for margaritas and deadlines for deckchairs, Cavoto recommends that you create a short handover document. 'It doesn't need to be anything detailed or fancy,' she told me. 'Just a clear, simple rundown of what you're working on and who should pick up each task while you're away. 'It will keep projects moving without you and ensure important tasks aren't forgotten, so you can stop checking in with the office and focus on checking out the cocktail menu.'
If you're like most people, you schedule your workday down to the most minute detail. So Covato asks, 'Why not plan your vacation with the same precision?' She adds if unplugging completely feels impossible, book an hour each morning to answer emails and check in with colleagues." She's an advocate of setting a timer and answering what matters most. Once the hour's over, she suggests logging off and muting your notifications. And for the rest of the day you end by blocking off for rest and relaxation and stick to it like you would your office calendar.
'We've been trained to think of time off as time wasted, but burnout isn't productive, Cavato insists. 'You can struggle through each day at 75% or book a vacation, recharge and return at 100%." She explains that rest resets your brain and refuels your body, so even with the time off, you end up getting more done overall. 'You need to change your mindset, stop treating rest like a guilty pleasure and start seeing it for what it is: a vital part of long-term, sustainable productivity.'
Cavato points out that nothing wrecks vacation plans like a last-minute meeting that dumps a new project in your lap or raises a problem that urgently needs fixing. That leaves you spending your whole vacation thinking about everything you need to do once you get back. 'The fix? Block off your last day in the office,' Cavato advises. 'Use it to tie up any loose ends, clear your inbox and get your to-do list in order so work doesn't cloud your summer vacation.'
A Final Wrap On Taking A Guilt-Free Vacation
Work is part of your life, not all of your life. Try to work at not working. Ask yourself, 'Why do I deny myself time away from work? What am I doing to my mind and body when I don't take time off from the job? Why can't I give myself a break once in a while?'
If you believe what you do is never enough, it can make you pile on more tasks. Examine your own tendencies to create stress for yourself and to deprive yourself of healthy self-care. It might lead you to insight and healthy changes so you give yourself the freedom to take a guilt-free vacation.
