Workplace stress and overtime hinder effective vacation recovery

The ability to recover during time off is often hindered by underlying workplace issues rather than a lack of vacation time. In Germany, employees averaged 27.2 hours of overtime in 2025, with 15.6 of those hours being unpaid, according to data from the Institute for Employment Research. A lack of transparent time tracking often prevents companies from identifying where excessive workloads, inefficient processes, or poor prioritization are occurring.

Psychological research suggests that true recovery requires more than just physical absence from the office. The DRAMMA model from occupational psychology identifies six essential factors for effective relaxation, including the ability to mentally detach from work, physical and mental relaxation, autonomy in how leisure time is spent, and the experience of competence through non-work-related hobbies.