According to a recent Grow Therapy survey of 1,035 employed U.S. adults, almost half—48%—have either canceled a vacation or cut it short in the past year because work demands intruded on their time off. The online study, conducted by Centiment from July 1‑9, 2026, examined stress levels before, during, and after time away from work.
Key stress drivers
Financial concerns and family obligations top the list of stressors. Seventy percent of respondents reported financial stress tied to the cost of a trip, while 68% felt pulled by family or personal responsibilities at home. These pressures leave little room for genuine relaxation.
More than four in ten workers (42%) said they felt more stressed in the one‑to‑two weeks before a vacation than during a typical workweek. This pre‑vacation anxiety appears to translate into behavior: among those who felt significantly more stressed before time off, 68% canceled or shortened a vacation, compared with 38% of those who felt only somewhat less stressed.
Who feels the pressure most?
Parents report the highest pre‑vacation stress, with 48% of workers who have children under 18 feeling heightened anxiety, versus 36% of those without caregiving duties. Employees caring for aging or ill relatives experience similar stress levels.
Remote workers are more likely than hybrid workers to feel significantly stressed before a vacation (20% vs. 12%). Younger workers also report higher stress: 44% of Gen Z employees (ages 18‑29) feel stressed before a vacation, compared with 33% of Gen X workers (ages 46‑61). Correspondingly, 58% of Gen Z respondents have canceled or cut short a vacation, versus 34% of Gen X.
Staying connected on time off
Even when on vacation, many workers remain tethered to work. Seventy‑four percent checked work messages at least once during their time off, and 40% checked daily. Those who entered vacation already stressed were five times more likely to check messages multiple times a day (49% vs. 10%). Hybrid workers were the least likely to fully disconnect, with 85% checking messages at least once, compared with 71% of remote workers and 70% of in‑office employees.
Therapy and coping strategies
Sixty‑eight percent said they would consider working with a therapist on issues like work‑related rest, boundaries, and burnout recovery. Interest is highest among those who felt significantly more stressed before vacation (55%) and those who felt significantly less stressed (40%). However, only 19% actually pursued therapy, while exercise (48%) and sleep (44%) remain the most common coping mechanisms.
Expert advice
Licensed clinical social worker Alexandra Pelazza recommends setting clear boundaries before time off: “Do not bring your work phone, Slack or email unless you have to. Set a plan at work to support feelings of guilt. Taking time to unplug literally takes practice and exposure.”
The survey’s findings suggest that simply adding more vacation days will not solve the problem. Employers and employees alike need to address the culture of constant connectivity and the pressures that prevent true rest.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
