How to Make Your Vacation the Ultimate Productivity Boost

Looking to get ahead in your career? Try taking a vacation.

It sounds like counterintuitive advice, but science has proven that taking real steps away from work—and no, checking your email in your hotel room every night doesn’t count—can pay dividends in terms of energy and creativity when you’re back on the job. 

Studies have found that people who took more than 10 vacation days per year had a 30% greater chance of receiving a raise or bonus. That’s because, the studies say, getting away—even for a weekend—shifts our focus away from the regular routine enough to make us more productive, more engaged and more resilient when we return. In fact, 64% of people in one study said that after time away, they were refreshed and excited to get back to work. Another study found that those who got out into nature and disconnected from their devices for a few days benefited from a 50% jump in creativity when they got back, simply because of the exposure to new and different experiences.

But not all vacations are created equal, according to the Harvard Business Review. A vacation that causes a lot of stress—due to transportation issues, unfamiliarity with the location or not feeling safe—negates the benefit you get from the time away. On the other hand, a relaxing vacation without those negative influences can boost energy and lower stress. Stopping in at a meditation retreat, says another study, might even help stave off illness by increasing antiviral activity. 

If you’re shooting for a vacation that has the greatest chance of boosting your creativity and productivity, keep in mind it’s about more than just frozen drinks on the beach. Check out these suggestions for unique retreats that will help you disconnect, recharge and be ready to take on your work.

Take a Silent Retreat
Cut off the noise of the outside world on a silent retreat. At the Siddhayatan Spiritual Retreat Center & Ashram in Windom, TX, you can read, journal, go for walks in the open grassland or just sit quietly. Not ready to jump right in to total silence? The Kadampa Meditation Center, in Glen Spey, NY, about 90 miles from New York City, provides a weekend of meditation training before moving on to two days of silence.

Practice Yoga
The physical and mental discipline yoga requires can help reduce anxiety and stress, according to the Mayo Clinic. Take some time to learn new skills or focus on improving your existing yoga ability while practicing this ancient art at a place such as the Red Mountain Resort near St. George, UT. There, you’ll be surrounded by the unique geology and mountain air of southwestern Utah. You can practice yoga in one of the canyons or meditate to the sound of Himalayan singing bowls.  

Improve Your Nutrition
Get away to a restful setting where healthy eating is part of the program, such as at the luxurious Canyon Ranch, with locations in Massachusetts, California and Arizona. Take advantage of other health-promoting activities while you’re there, too, including custom-designed exercise instruction, acupuncture, ceramics lessons and life-coaching sessions. You can even learn how to cook healthier foods, so that you can continue eating well when you return home.

Immerse Yourself in Nature
When you really need a change of scenery, it’s tough to get more remote than Alaska. An hour outside of Fairbanks, you can go totally off the grid—in absolute comfort—at the Borealis Basecamp, staying in a fiberglass dome with a comfortable bed, full bath, kitchen and 16-foot window above for a picture-perfect view of the night sky. Come in winter and you’ll have the chance to witness the stunning northern lights dancing across the sky. 

Give Back
Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and you’ll have the opportunity to build or repair homes for low-income families. Giving back can help you shift your perspective, and you can choose to volunteer close to home or in one of nearly 30 countries around the world, where you can immerse yourself in the local culture. Tasks may include moving bricks, laying cement and digging trenches; you’ll also have time away from the build site to explore the community and meet locals.

Cleanse Yourself
If your body’s telling you that you need more than a simple digital detox, try visiting a place that can help reduce all kinds of toxins. Located on 100 acres of eastern Iowa countryside, The Raj is the only facility outside of India specifically built to offer traditional Ayurvedic detoxification and rejuvenation treatments, with programs that include steam, massage and colon-cleansing therapies. Participate in two to three hours of treatments each day, then take time to walk the trails that wind through the property’s forests and meadows.

Get Spiritual
Many have found the open skies and natural beauty of Sedona, AZ, to have a positive impact on health and well-being. Take full advantage at the monthly full-moon retreat at L’Auberge de Sedona, with luxurious accommodations that offer canyon or creek views. Meditate, relax to the healing sounds of crystal bowls being played, or express gratitude through the practice of guided writing. 

Rich Beattie is a former executive digital editor of Travel + Leisure, and has written for outlets such as The New York Times, Popular Science, New York Magazine and Ski.

Looking for a vacation that’s good for you and the planet? Read How to Green Your Dream Vacation.