About Vacays

Vacays is here to serve as a travel and wellness movement, exploring the role of vacation in preventing burnout and restoring balance in American life.

After years of working in the mental health field, I began to notice a pattern that felt impossible to ignore: chronic stress, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion normalized as part of everyday life. Many Americans are living to work rather than working to live — postponing rest, delaying vacation, and wearing burnout as a badge of honor.

I’ve sat with people who were depleted, overwhelmed, and convinced that slowing down wasn’t an option.

At the same time, I watched something else unfold culturally.

In the United States, it’s not uncommon to hear people speak proudly about how much PTO they’ve accumulated — precisely because they never take it. Unused vacation days become a symbol of commitment. Long hours become proof of ambition. Rest becomes something to justify.

The cost of that mindset is real.

Rising stress. Declining mental health. Disconnection from joy and presence.

Why Vacays Exists

Vacays exists to reframe vacation as essential mental healthcare.

Research consistently shows that time away from work reduces stress, supports emotional regulation, strengthens relationships, and prevents burnout. Yet American work culture continues to treat vacation as optional — or worse, indulgent.

Vacays challenges that narrative.

Through research-backed insights, cultural exploration, and intentional travel writing, this platform examines how vacation impacts mental well-being — and what Americans can learn from countries where rest is protected and work-life balance is prioritized.

Because rest is not the opposite of productivity. It sustains it.

What You’ll Find Here

Vacays centers around four pillars:

Mental Health & Burnout
The psychology of stress, burnout recovery, and the measurable benefits of rest.

Cultural Travel & Work-Life Balance
What Americans can learn from countries that prioritize vacation and slower living.

Wellness Travel
Slow, restorative trips designed to support mental well-being — not exhaust it.

Vacation Mindset
Breaking free from guilt, redefining productivity, and shifting from living to work toward working to live.

An Invitation

If you’ve ever felt guilty for taking time off…
If you’ve ever postponed vacation “until things calm down”…
If you’ve ever felt proud of unused PTO while quietly feeling exhausted…

You’re not alone.

Vacays is here to advocate for a healthier rhythm — one where vacation is protected, rest is respected, and life is lived fully, not just efficiently.

Because we were never meant to live exhausted.

Nin Chattle, Founder of Vacays wife, mom of 2, and enthusiast of vacation as mental healthcare.

A Personal Shift

At some point around 2017, I decided to live differently. I started to believe in working hard — and vacationing just as seriously. Not as escape, but as restoration. Not as reward, but as rhythm. On average, I started taking a minimum of one vacation every three months. Not always elaborate trips. Not always far away. But intentional time away from work — time to reset, reflect, reconnect, and breathe.

The impact on my own life has been profound.

More clarity.
More patience.
More presence in my relationships and as a parent.
More enjoyment of everyday life.

Vacation did not make me less productive. It made me more grounded.

my vacation life experience + background in mental health = the creation of Vacays.