Top 10 signs you need a vacation — and the items you’ll most likely forget to pack

Seven in 10 Americans say they are already in vacation mode three days before departure. 

According to a new survey that analyzed 2,000 general population Americans and their vacation habits, over half (59%) of Americans are already “mentally OOO” before they write their out-of-office email.

The survey found that 47% of employed respondents said they struggle to focus at work in the days leading up to a vacation.

Another 75% of workers said they’ve experienced mental fog at work very recently.

The survey, which was conducted by Talker Research on behalf of CheapCaribbean, also revealed the top five signs respondents said signaled to them that they desperately needed a vacation: feeling burnt out (62%), catching themselves daydreaming about a trip (45%) and getting irritated with others (44%).

Other key indicators were feeling fatigued no matter how much sleep they got (39%) and having low energy even on weekends (35%).

The results also detailed that being mentally checked out too soon or being so burnt out you need the vacation can lead to lapses; the items people are likely to forget when packing included phone chargers (28%), toothbrushes, and toothpaste (24%).

Headphones and earbuds (19%), as well as sunglasses (18%), also made the list of commonly forgotten items.

“Taking time off to relax and recharge is so important,” said Dana Studebaker, Vice President of Marketing, Consumer Brands, CheapCaribbean. “Whether it’s lounging on a beach or exploring a new destination, vacations let you reset and come back with a fresh perspective.  

The research went on to explore how, when it comes to packing, preparing, and planning, time is always appreciated — the survey found that even people who prefer spontaneous trips (45%) need at least three days on average to pack everything and plan ahead. 

Planning a vacation isn’t without its own stress, however. Respondents reported feeling worried the most about money/budget (54%), packing (28%), and booking hotels (17%).

A further 28% admit to feeling anxious about planning leading up to a trip.

But pre-trip concerns don’t affect everyone equally — over a third (36%) can be ‘trip ready’ in a day or less, and a flexible 16% can be ready in just a few hours.

When it comes to the ideal pre-trip preparation, the “perfect balance” was just that — an equal weighting between 50% spontaneity and 50% planned out.

One in three respondents said they currently have a trip booked, and a similar number (31%) said they daydream about being on vacation daily.

The mental benefits of knowing a trip is coming up outweigh the stress of preparation. In fact, over 87% of those surveyed said having a vacation planned helps their mental well-being.

What’s more, people who said they already have a trip booked reported being happier on a 10-point scale (7.6) versus those without a trip booked (6.8)  

“It’s clear that simply having a vacation on the calendar has a positive impact on people’s overall happiness,” added Michael Lowery, Head of Global Consumer Business, CheapCaribbean.. “And a sense of anticipation and the knowledge that relaxation is to come can really make a difference day to day.” 

TOP SIGNS PEOPLE NEED A VACATION

• Feeling burnt out (62%)
• Daydreaming about a trip (45%)
• Getting irritated with others (44%)
• Feeling fatigued no matter how much you sleep (39%)
• Having low energy even on weekends (35%)
• Feeling brain fog (35%)
• Completely forgetting tasks (17%)
• Misplacing items (14%)
• Making mistakes at work (8%)
• Checking emails even when you’re off the clock (7%)

TOP 10 MOST FORGOTTEN ITEMS WHEN PACKING FOR A TRIP 

• Phone charger (28%)
• Toothbrush & toothpaste (24%)
• Headphones or earbuds (19%)
• Sunglasses (18%)
• Sunscreen (18%)
• Body care products (17%)
• Power adapter (16%)
• Hairbrush (15%)
• Skincare products (15%)
• Hand sanitizer (14%)

Survey methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 Americans; the survey was commissioned by CheapCaribbean and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Feb. 19 – Feb. 21, 2025.