Travel idea! 11 reasons why taking lots of short holidays is the best

By Evlin DuBose · · 3 min read
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Look, it is satisfying to bank all your annual leave and spend it in one go. After all, living somewhere overseas for a few weeks (or months!) is an experience like no other. But could taking many short holidays instead of one long one be better for you? Absolutely!

So this year, why not try taking more Mondays off? Here are the pros of this travel hack.

Short holidays are the best because...

They even out long public holiday dry spells

Lonely surfboard

A three-day weekend is the highlight of any month, especially if it’s a public holiday – no need to spend any paid time off! 

But public holidays can be few and far between, so why not sprinkle some magic into your work schedule? It would certainly make the long slog between June and October more manageable!

Four-day weeks are the best

4 3D checkmarks

Looking forward to a three-day weekend is incredible, sure, but only having to work a four-day week? Absolutely hands-down the bees knees. Iconic. Peerless. Simply the best.

You get to know your amazing local area

Vacation flamingo

If you only have three days to take a holiday, your best option is to take short, self-contained trips to somewhere nearby and special. And luckily, living in Australia means you’re spoiled for choice. 

If you live in Sydney, why not go to the Blue Mountains? Melbourne has the breathtaking Yarra Valley, Brisbane has the Gold Coast, and so on. You might be surprised at the wonders in your own backyard!

Whirlwind holidays are peak adventure time

Vintage car with travel suitcases and floaties on top

Don’t worry: if you’re sick of exploring Australia after years of lockdowns and travel bans, our beautiful big island is next door to some pretty spectacular neighbours like New Zealand, Fiji, and Bali. 

So if you haven’t jet-set to the rest of Oceania yet, why not take a whirlwind three-day weekend holiday to these vibrant places and explore? Limited time means you must make the most of it!

Short holidays are cheaper holidays

Wallet with sparkles

Because you can’t travel as far over a three-day weekend, you’re not spending nearly as much on transport, travel insurance, accommodation, or food as you would going overseas. This makes frequent short holidays a budget-friendly travel option. 

So if the cost of living has been biting your wallet hard, consider taking more Mondays off this year. Split an Airbnb with friends and pre-pack a few meals – you’re only going for three days!

You don’t have to worry about lots of luggage

Suitcase brimming clothes

Speaking of packing luggage like a pro, a three-day weekend means you don’t have to take nearly as much with you. Even if you’re an over-packer, there are still only so many pairs of underpants and board games you’ll need for two nights away. You may not even need travel documents!

Plus, taking lots of small holidays is a great way of training yourself to take less with you in general.

You get lots of practice travelling

A stack of suitcases

Taking full advantage of small holidays means you’ll quickly become well-practised in packing, planning, and travelling by the time you work up to an epic vacation overseas. You know what works for you, what you need to take, and all the cheapest, easiest travel companies you like to work with. Score!

You have frequent breaks to look forward to

Three pink flamingo floaties

Working long hours without a holiday can leave you feeling stressed, uninspired, and burnt out. But if you take many small breaks throughout the year, you give yourself something to look forward to and shake things up.

It can help with your productivity

Clipboard with a checkmark

If you feel passionate about your career, giving yourself more three-day weekends is a great way to build rest and recovery into your schedule. Exhaustion can hamper productivity, but if you feel rejuvenated every month, then hey – the sky’s the limit!

There’s no need to schedule work cover or those out-of-the-office emails

Bell alert

Long vacations can be a headache when it comes to organising the chaos you leave in your absence. Someone needs to watch your assignments or step into your shoes while you’re gone, which may require extra training or planning on your part so you don’t leave your coworkers hanging.

Instead, three-day weeks eliminate the need to manage things in your absence. The company won’t burn down without you for a day – and you don’t need to schedule those out-of-the-office emails!

We need more rest

Collage of rainbows, mountains, and a traveller

Rest should come in many forms: daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly. But while we may be fairly good at scheduling big vacations at Christmas or little tea breaks during the day, it’s important to shorten the work week (and month) where possible, too. 

In fact, it’s way better for your mental health, energy, and productivity if you’re not constantly on the edge of burnout. Putting more three-day weekends into your calendar can remind even the most dedicated and work-obsessed among us to relax. Take it easy! Life is for living.

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