This is your sign to take a mental health vacation (here's how)
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Chris Mosunic, PhD, RD, MBA
If your stress is high and the mental fog is thick, it may be time for a vacay! Explore the benefits of a mental health vacation and how to take one on any budget (even at home).
Everyone hits a wall sometimes. Maybe you’re feeling burnt out by too many late nights at the office, stressed about making enough time for the people you love, or just overwhelmed by how hard it’s been to balance it all. No matter what’s going on, when you start to feel more fragile than ever, it’s time to consider a mental health vacation.
This doesn’t mean you have to run away to a tiny cabin in the woods or go on a luxury retreat. A mental health vacation can just be sitting on your couch and reading your favorite book for the whole day.
Taking a mental getaway is about pressing pause when it all gets to be too much. It’s about giving yourself time to decompress so that you can get back to your life feeling refreshed.
Of course, taking one is easier said than done. Here’s what you need to know about these types of vacations and how to get the break you deserve, no matter your budget.
What is a mental health vacation?
A mental health vacation involves setting aside time to intentionally take care of your brain, your body, and your emotional wellbeing. It’s about stepping out of survival mode and into a space where you can finally breathe and let go. This kind of break could be a weeklong escape to a quiet cabin somewhere — or it could be a single solitary Sunday where your phone’s off and your to-do list is empty.
Unlike traditional vacations, when you might just swap one type of pressure (like work deadlines) for another (trip planning), a mental health vacation ditches the obligations. They can be anything you want them to be.
In fact, not doing any mental work is kind of the point. This break is about choosing rest over productivity, and giving yourself permission to not be everything to everyone. The goal is just to feel a little bit more like yourself.
What are the benefits of a mental health vacation?
Many people juggle work, relationships, and endless chores — a relentless combination that can lead to burnout if left unchecked. A mental health vacation can help you:
Turn down the volume on stress: Chronic stress can keep your body in a perpetual state of alertness, and a mental health vacation gives your nervous system a chance to come out of fight-or-flight mode.
Remember what joy feels like: Prioritizing relaxation and fun, even just for a day, can be an automatic mood-booster.
Reboot your brain: Constant decision-making and multitasking are exhausting, but taking a mental health holiday can help create space for more mental clarity.
Feel better physically: Stress can hijack your entire body. Restorative breaks can help give you better sleep, improved digestion, and more stable moods.
Reconnect with yourself: With so many responsibilities, it’s easy to lose sight of your needs and goals, but a mental health vacation can help you feel like yourself again.
How to take a mental health vacation (on any budget)
You don’t have to have extra cash lying around in order to take a mental health vacation. All you need is a willingness to carve out a little pocket of peace so that you can reset.
Here’s how to take a mental health vacation on any budget.
5 ways to have an at-home retreat
It’s always nice to go away, but the truth is, you can give yourself the mental break you deserve right where you are.
Declare a guilt-free lazy day: Drop the pressure to be productive and decide to take an entire day to do nothing. You could wear soft pants, eat cereal for dinner, and just binge-watch your favorite show without guilt.
Digital detox, even just for a few hours: Put your phone on airplane mode for a few hours and exist in silence for a bit. If that feels like it’s too much, just try to avoid a particularly noisy app or hide your inbox. If it’s all feeling hard, here are 12 tips that can help you scroll less.
Create a DIY spa experience: Draw a bath, light some candles, put on your favorite playlist, and then just zone out. Make it a full spa experience with a face mask.
Pick a slow activity on purpose: Break out a puzzle, bake a sweet treat, tend to your plants, or journal. Remember, you’re not trying to be productive — you’re relaxing. (Need help journaling? Try these 12 gratitude prompts.)
Try guided relaxation or visualization: Let someone else take the wheel and try a guided meditation or a guided visualization exercise.
💙 Spanish Guitar Spa is the perfect soundtrack to a relaxing day at home.
4 ideas for a vacation in your own town
If you want to be a little more adventurous, local escapes can offer a powerful mental shift without the potential headaches of full-on travel.
Go outside: Science suggests that spending time in green spaces can reduce stress and help improve your mood. Find a local park, beach, trail, or patch of trees and let your nervous system soak it in. More of a beach person? Water can have a calming effect on the brain, so don’t hesitate to check out a nearby lake, river, or ocean.
Book a night away: A single night at a local hotel or even a friend’s empty apartment can feel like a full-blown retreat. A change of scenery can help you feel like new again.
Be a tourist in your own town: Take yourself to the museum you’ve walked past 100 times or check out the new bookstore you keep noticing. You could also go see a movie by yourself, or try that new restaurant you’ve been curious about.
Attend a low-pressure class or event: Look for local yoga studios or community centers that offer drop-in workshops. Sound bath classes and group meditations can be especially powerful experiences.
💙 Try a Mindful Walking practice with Tamara Levitt to elevate your experience in a local park or green space.
5 travel getaways to help you actually recharge
If you like to travel, go for it — but be sure to carve out ample time to relax. Here are a few tips to ensure your getaway is a true mental health vacation:
Choose destinations that soothe, not stimulate: Pick a quiet town or nature-centric spot over a chaotic city or crowded resort. The goal is to actually feel relaxed when you’re there.
Be intentional with your itinerary: Aim to leave entire blocks of time unscheduled. Build in naps, wandering, and doing absolutely nothing. You could make reading on a bench your main event.
Set expectations with travel companions: If you’re travelling with others, communicate early that this is a trip for mental rest.
Pack like you’re protecting your peace: Bring items that make you feel calm and cared for, such as books, cozy clothes, and snacks you love. If you have a comfort object, like a weighted blanket or your favorite soft sweater, throw it in your suitcase too.
Unplug (at least a little): Delete your work apps or put your phone on Do Not Disturb. If that’s not possible right now, log out of things that stress you out.
Mental health vacation FAQs
Are there ways to improve my mental health while I’m on vacation?
There are definitely ways you can improve your mental health on vacation. The magic lies in being intentional and paying attention to what you actually need, whether it’s sleeping, crying, or being left alone for a full 24 hours.
In general, the best thing you can do for your mental health on vacation is to slow down, let yourself feel, and respond to yourself with compassion.
Is taking a vacation good for mental health?
Taking a vacation can be great for your mental health. Even short breaks have been shown to help lower your stress hormones, improve your mood, and possibly prevent burnout.
It can also help give you much-needed perspective. When you step away from your day-to-day life, you give your brain a break. It’s like zooming out on your problems and suddenly remembering that you’re more than your deadlines and inbox.
There can also be something healing about novelty. New places or even just a change in your daily walk can do wonders for your mood.
What are some examples of a mental health vacation?
A mental health vacation can really be whatever you want it to be. It could be a solo retreat in a cabin, a cozy weekend hiding out in your mom’s guest room, or just one quiet morning lying on your floor listening to music.
There’s no wrong way to do a mental health vacation. As long as it brings you back to yourself, you’re doing it right.
Can a mental health vacation be just one day?
A single day, or even just a few hours, can count as a mental health vacation. Little breaks can be deeply restorative if you approach them with care. They’re like power naps for your entire being.
To take a one-day vacation, block off the time, turn off your phone, and do something relaxing, like getting a massage. When you regularly take micro-breaks, you’ll feel restored and recharged.
How do I maintain the benefits of a mental health vacation afterward?
To maintain the benefits of your mental health vacation, bring little pieces of the vacation vibe with you. For example, if you took slower showers while on vacation, add that to your morning routine, or incorporate a daily hour of solitude into your weekend.
As much as you can, anchor yourself with small rituals that remind you how rest feels.
Calm your mind. Change your life.
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