Since we're in the middle of summer break, I thought it would be fitting to take a break from the shorter hours interviews, and talk about something that's on everyone's mind: vacations.

Many of us have a conflicted relationships with vacations. We expect a lot from them, we spend a lot on them, but we don't always get everything we want from them. When we go somewhere new, our default mode is to pack the days full of activities (this is doubly true if you have children), then we come home feeling like we need a vacation to recover from our vacation.

If we want vacations that are restorative, that recharge us and restore our energy, is there a better way?

In this episode I talk with Jessica de Bloom about the science of vacations. De Bloom is one of a number of academics who have been studying the psychology of restorative activities. I originally discovered her work when I was writing Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less, and so it was a pleasure to talk to her in person about her work.

De Bloom's work has some counterintuitive conclusions about vacations and breaks, and if you like getting away but feel like you're not getting what you need out of your time away, this episode is for you.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Jessica de Bloom's profile on Research Gate and Academia.edu
• The Kauai Humane Society and its awesome field trip program that lets you borrow dogs for the day
• And as always, my book Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less