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The hardest thing to do on vacation? Absolutely nothing,\u00a0according to new research<\/a>.<\/p>\n Conducted by Talker Research for\u00a0Margaritaville Vacation Club<\/a>, a survey of 2,000 adults who have traveled in the past year looked at \u201cthe busy effect,\u201d finding that more than half of those surveyed don\u2019t know how to just \u201cdo nothing\u201d (55%).<\/p>\n The survey found that most Americans agree that \u201cdoing nothing\u201d is difficult to do \u2014 even on vacation (56%) and nearly half of Americans would feel \u201cguilty\u201d if they did nothing on vacation (48%).<\/p>\n The culprit? The survey found the average person uses the phrase \u201cI\u2019m busy\u201d nearly 300 times a year, with 30% saying it as often as daily.<\/p>\n For many, the phrase is used when they actually have limited time (53%), but more than a third admit it\u2019s easier to say than saying \u201cno\u201d (37%) and a similar percentage said they use \u201cI\u2019m busy\u201d when they\u2019re avoiding doing something else (35%).<\/p>\n When they aren\u2019t busy, their mind is still plagued with money woes and to-do lists (51% each).<\/p>\n Further, nearly half are likely to feel stressed (49%) and guilty (46%) when not actively busy, thinking that they\u2019re forgetting something.<\/p>\n But many don\u2019t recognize that actively clearing their minds and committing to \u201cdoing nothing\u201d can combat these feelings.<\/p>\n The findings highlight the desire to relax on vacation.<\/p>\n One in six revealed that they can\u2019t remember the last time they cleared their mind \u2014 but half would love to make it happen on vacation (49%).<\/p>\n \u201cPeople spend so much of their lives feeling busy that it can actually be difficult to switch off,\u201d said\u00a0 Jonathan Topolosky, senior vice president at Margaritaville Vacation Club, a vacation ownership brand with resorts in the U.S. and Caribbean. \u201cWhen nearly nine in 10 respondents in our survey say a good vacation allows them to embrace a more laid-back lifestyle, it reinforces something we\u2019ve always believed \u2014 that slowing down is exactly what people need most.\u201d<\/p>\n Thinking about how they clear their mind on their trips, respondents rely on fresh air and being outdoors the most (62%), followed by scenic views (56%), relaxing music (54%), ocean breeze (52%) and clear or blue waters (52%).<\/p>\n Results also show that many travelers spend a significant portion of their vacation on-site. On average, respondents spend 44% of their time relaxing in the privacy of their resort room, while more than a third (37%) report spending most of their vacation taking advantage of on-property amenities.<\/p>\n In the privacy of their room, \u201cdoing nothing\u201d helps respondents with feeling like they get a break (88%), deviating from their routine (86%) and recharging their energy levels (86%).<\/p>\n \u201cThe findings in our research suggest that relaxing on vacation often comes down to having the right environment,\u201d said Topolosky. \u201cWhen guests have access to great views, spacious suites with living areas and outdoor spaces to unwind, it\u2019s easier to step away from everyday routines and savor moments of doing nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n A good period of \u201cdoing nothing\u201d has lingering effects, too, leaving respondents satisfied after their trip (84%) and reduces their travel-related stress (79%).<\/p>\n But just 15% \u201calways\u201d reach their ideal balance of staying busy and relaxing on vacation, and one in five report that day-to-day stress creeps back in immediately upon returning home (21%), underscoring the importance of intentionally planning time to relax and disconnect while traveling.<\/p>\n Research methodology:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Talker Research surveyed 2,000 Americans who have traveled within the past 12 months who have access to the internet;<\/strong>\u00a0the survey was commissioned by\u00a0Margaritaville Vacation Club<\/strong>\u00a0and administered and conducted online by\u00a0Talker Research<\/strong>\u00a0between\u00a0Feb. 26 and March 3, 2026.<\/strong>\u00a0A link to the questionnaire can be found\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n To view the complete methodology as part of AAPOR\u2019s Transparency Initiative, please visit the Talker Research\u00a0Process and Methodology page<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nSocial Shields and Avoidance Tactics<\/b><\/h2>\n
The Post-Vacation Glow of True Rest<\/b><\/h2>\n