Summer holidays carry almost symbolic weight in Lithuania: if you do not take time off in June, July or August, it can feel as though you have missed out. Social media, school holiday schedules and workplace rhythms reinforce the idea that rest "has to" happen in summer.

Psychologically, the question is better framed differently: not when everyone else takes a holiday, but when and how you genuinely recover. Summer holidays can be valuable, but they are not the only route to rest. Sometimes choosing another season, shorter breaks or a year-round rhythm of recovery is much healthier for an individual.

At a glance: is a summer holiday psychologically necessary?

  • No: there is no "correct" season for rest.
  • What matters most is genuinely stepping away from work and everyday concerns.
  • One summer holiday cannot make up for tiredness that has accumulated throughout the year.
  • More frequent, shorter periods of rest can often be more helpful than a single long holiday.
  • If you keep postponing rest or never take a holiday, consider whether you may be at risk of burnout.

Why have summer holidays become a source of psychological pressure?

In summer, rest becomes visible. People share trips, seaside visits, children’s activities, countryside breaks and festivals. If you are working, saving money, caring for a loved one, raising young children or simply have no energy to plan a trip, you may begin to feel that "something is wrong with me".

This is about social comparison rather than a psychological necessity. Your nervous system does not care whether your holiday photos look summery. What matters is whether tension eases, sleep recovers, and there is a sense of safety, enjoyment and choice.

Holidays do not have to be in summer: what recovery research suggests

Research suggests that holidays generally improve wellbeing and reduce tension, but these effects do not always last long after a return to work. In other words, rest helps, but cannot compensate for constant overwork. Research also highlights the importance of holiday quality as well as length: whether people can truly step away from work and recover.

Two weeks of summer leave are therefore often not enough if the rest of the year is spent under constant pressure. It matters more that rest becomes a regular part of life: every day, every week and during longer periods of time off. Regular recovery can support wellbeing and help reduce burnout risk.

What matters more than the season: switching off, resting and regaining a sense of control

Psychological research suggests that how we rest matters more for recovery than the time of year. Helpful experiences include stepping away from work-related thoughts, relaxing, doing something meaningful or enjoyable, and choosing how to spend our own time. These can help restore energy and improve wellbeing. This kind of rest is possible beyond summer holidays: in autumn, spring or even over a weekend, if you can genuinely switch off from everyday concerns and make time for yourself.

1

Psychological detachment

Can you forget about work for a while? Or are you still checking emails, replying to messages or dealing with work matters in your head?

2

A sense of control

Do you have some choice during your time off: how to spend it, how much to socialise, when to stop and how many activities to fit into a day?

3

Physical recovery

Good sleep, regular meals, movement and an opportunity to settle often offer more benefit than simply marking "holiday" in your calendar.

4

Enjoyment and meaning

Rest can be active or quiet. What matters is that you feel refreshed afterwards, rather than exhausted from trying to fit everything in.

One long holiday or several shorter breaks?

No single pattern suits everyone. Someone with a very demanding job may need a longer break because the first few days are spent simply coming down from tension. Someone else may benefit more from several shorter breaks, so their nervous system does not have to wait for a single annual opportunity to recover.

A longer holiday outside peak season

This may suit people with heavy summer workloads, children’s camp schedules or financial constraints. Autumn or spring can sometimes make it easier to take a real break.

Several shorter breaks

This can help if you become overtired quickly and a single long holiday at the end of the year becomes an attempt to recover that comes too late.

Small breaks every week

These do not replace holidays, but provide an essential foundation: work-free evenings, time in nature, protecting sleep and limiting availability.

If you notice that even a holiday does not help you rest, you may find it useful to read the separate article on why you cannot unwind on holiday.

What does Lithuania’s Labour Code say about the length of leave?

In Lithuania, employees must receive at least 20 working days of annual leave if they work five days a week, or 24 working days if they work six. Leave can be divided, but, as the State Labour Inspectorate reminds employees, at least one part must last no fewer than 10 working days, or 12 working days for a six-day working week. The dates are set through a leave schedule or agreement with the employer. The law does not require leave to be taken specifically in summer, but does require at least one longer period of annual leave.

When a summer holiday is not possible: how to support yourself

Not everyone has the same opportunities to rest in summer. Some people have seasonal jobs, while others face financial constraints, childcare arrangements, health difficulties or family commitments. Psychologically, it helps to distinguish "I cannot take a holiday in summer" from "I have no right to rest". The first may be a fact of life. The second can set someone on a path towards burnout.

If you are not taking a holiday this summer, make room for at least some recovery

  • Switch off completely from work for at least one evening a week, including email, messages and other work matters.
  • Make time to be in nature or outdoors without a goal of being productive.
  • Plan a longer break at another time of year in advance and put it in your calendar.
  • Set at least one clear boundary that makes you less available after work.
  • Reduce comparisons with other people’s holidays on social media if they leave you feeling guilty, envious or sad.

How to plan rest around your needs rather than the calendar

Start by asking: what do I actually need to recover from? If you are worn out by being around people, a packed trip with lots of social encounters may not suit you. If you feel stuck in a routine, a more active trip might restore your energy. If switching off from work is difficult, you may need a transition day without major plans at the start of your holiday.

The key is to remember that good rest is not defined by how it looks on social media or whether it meets other people’s expectations. Good rest leaves you feeling calmer, with more energy and more inner space for yourself.

When does not taking leave become a burnout risk?

The World Health Organization describes burnout as an occupational phenomenon resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. The issue is therefore not simply that someone missed a summer holiday. It arises when there has been no real recovery for a long time, boundaries keep weakening, and body and mind remain constantly on alert.

If you recognise exhaustion, cynicism, distance from your work or a sense that you can no longer work as you used to, it is worth reading more about burnout at work and recovery.

Psychological support when resting is difficult even without practical barriers

Sometimes people have the opportunity to rest but cannot give themselves permission. Guilt, anxiety, thoughts about unfinished tasks and a need to be constantly useful get in the way. Holiday planning then becomes a psychological issue as well as an organisational one.

I offer online sessions via Teams in Lithuanian and English for adults and teenagers aged 16 and over. This is convenient for people living in Lithuania or abroad. If you would like to explore ongoing tiredness, boundaries or guilt about resting, you can book on the booking page or view consultation fees.

Frequently asked questions about summer holidays and rest

Is it psychologically necessary to take a holiday specifically in summer?

No. What matters most for psychological recovery is not the season, but whether you can step away from work, restore your sleep, feel some control over your time, enjoy activities and genuinely rest. A summer holiday can be a good choice, but it is not the only healthy option.

Which matters more: one long summer holiday or several shorter breaks during the year?

Many people benefit from a combination: a longer holiday for a deeper break and shorter, regular pauses throughout the year. Research suggests that the benefits of holidays for wellbeing often fade after returning to work, so a sustainable rhythm of rest matters more than relying on a single annual escape.

How much annual leave are employees entitled to in Lithuania?

Under Lithuania’s Labour Code, employees must receive at least 20 working days of annual leave if they work five days a week, or 24 working days if they work six. Leave can be divided, but at least one part must last no fewer than 10 working days, or 12 working days for a six-day working week.

What if I cannot take a holiday in summer?

Try creating a deliberate plan for rest during summer: shorter, work-free weekends, clear evening boundaries, time outdoors, restoring sleep and one or more longer breaks at another time of year. The aim is not to punish yourself for having the "wrong" holiday, but to make real room for recovery.

Why do I sometimes still feel tired after a summer holiday?

This can happen when a holiday is too intense, you cannot mentally switch off from work, you spend the whole time caring for others, or you return to the same excessive workload. The problem may lie less in the timing of the holiday than in the quality of rest and the pattern of everyday demands.

Does not taking holidays increase the risk of burnout?

A lack of regular recovery may contribute to chronic stress and burnout risk. Holidays are not the only factor, however: workload, boundaries, a sense of control, support, sleep and everyday opportunities to recover also matter.

How can I plan holidays if I work with clients, on projects or in shifts?

It can help to plan time off earlier, communicate boundaries clearly, arrange cover or agree work priorities, and allow a transition day at the start of the holiday. If summer does not suit you, choose a time when you will actually be able to switch off.

When is it worth seeing a psychologist about persistent tiredness?

Consider support if tiredness does not ease after rest, you feel guilty when resting, struggle to set work boundaries, experience anxiety, irritability or a sense of meaninglessness, or repeatedly think "I can no longer stop".

Sources and further reading

Rest is not a seasonal competition

If summer works for you, make use of it. If it does not, that does not mean you have lost your right to rest. What matters is building a rhythm of rest that genuinely reduces tension and helps you feel more like yourself again.

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