Slovenian psychologists link burnout to insufficient vacation, advise 7‑8 day breaks

Mental‑health specialists in Slovenia warn that chronic fatigue, irritability and loss of motivation may signal burnout rather than ordinary tiredness. Branka Grbin, a psychotherapist at the Sigmund Freud Institute, notes that burnout is a deep physical and psychological exhaustion that does not improve with short rest.

Dr. Brittany McGeehan, a psychologist who works on burnout prevention, recommends vacations of seven to eight days for true regeneration. She explains that only after several days away do stress levels drop, sleep quality improve and the brain disengage from work‑related thinking. Shorter breaks often leave people checking email and feeling guilty, which can erase the benefits of time off. She also suggests two longer vacations per year, each lasting six to eight days, supplemented by occasional long weekends.

Both experts stress that effective recovery requires a genuine disconnect from work devices and responsibilities, not merely a longer weekend.