Test. Is It Time for You to Take a Vacation?

But in reality, the urge to drop everything and fly away for at least three days does not always mean true burnout or a genuine need for time off. At the same time, the opposite is also true: your "No, I'm fine, I'm still holding up" may itself be a pretty alarming sign. So how can you reliably tell whether you really need a vacation - or whether you're still staying afloat?

The best way to find out is to take our quiz! Maybe all you need is a small weekend break, or maybe the situation is serious enough that something really needs to change. Let's not wait for burnout to catch you off guard - let's assess where you are right now. And while we're at it, we'll also look at where your exhaustion is coming from, what to do about it, and how to help yourself.

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All you need to do is answer our 8 questions!

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What does your morning on a weekday usually look like?

• I wake up already exhausted, as if I had only just gone to bed.
• For the first 20–30 minutes I basically need to pull myself together piece by piece, and then I’m fine.
• Not exactly energetic, but nothing dramatic.
• It goes great, especially if I have a clear plan for the day.

Next

You suddenly get three full days off. What is your first thought?

• “Finally! Now I can catch up on sleep and tackle all the things I’ve been putting off.”
• “It would be nice to get a change of scenery — three days is basically a mini vacation.”
• “Oh, perfect, I’ll finally have time for that concert or that course I love!”
• “Nice, but honestly, I’d rather work those days.”

Next

When was the last time you had a real vacation — not a weekend, not holidays, not ‘I was still checking email anyway’?

• I can’t even remember… A year or two ago?
• Around a year ago, maybe 8 months…
• A few months ago, but it still feels like it wasn’t enough.
• Quite recently — 2 to 4 months ago.

Next

How have you been reacting lately to small everyday frustrations?

• Far too intensely, like my last nerve has just snapped.
• I get more irritated than I’d like, but then it passes.
• Of course it bothers me, but it’s manageable.
• No catastrophizing — that’s the main thing.

Next

Imagine this: you’ve just finished a packed workweek. What kind of Friday evening sounds most appealing?

• Lie down, turn off my phone, and have no one bother me.
• Go anywhere at all — another neighborhood, another city, a hotel, out into nature — as long as it’s a change of scene.
• Have a calm dinner, watch a movie, spend time on my favorite hobbies.
• Meet up with friends and have a big night out.

Next

Which of these have you been experiencing most often lately?

• Insomnia — or the opposite, struggling to wake up for ages.
• I more and more often want to run away somewhere far away, preferably into the mountains.
• I used to feel more joy and pleasure than I do now…
• I’m just bored.

Next

If a colleague or someone close to you suggests getting away somewhere for a few days, your first reaction is…

• “Yes, yes! Even tomorrow! Please, I’m begging you.”
• “Why not?”
• “Mm, my schedule is too packed, I probably can’t.”
• “No, I’m drowning in work — no time for trips.”

Next

Which of these phrases do you like the most?

• “Even whales had the sense to admit their mistake and go back from land to the water. What’s stopping you?”
• “Even the most reliable compass sometimes just sits in a drawer.”
• “A turtle knows when to paddle and when to go with the flow — because if it paddles all the time, it will wear itself out and drown.”
• “Work isn’t going anywhere… which is exactly why I’d rather be the one who runs away.”

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