Southwest Suggests Turning a Quick Nap Into a Weekend Getaway to Combat Burnout
A Southwest‑sponsored survey shows a nap is the most common quick fix for burnout, but a short trip may be far more effective.
Quick fixes dominate burnout coping, but effectiveness may differ
When asked what helps take the edge off burnout, respondents in a Southwest Airlines® Burnout Report chose regular exercise (31 %), a nap (26 %), watching TV (25 %) and time with family (24 %). A vacation of two or more days was selected by 22 % of participants.
The ranking reflects ease of access: a nap costs nothing and a favorite show is a click away, whereas a vacation requires planning, date selection and a PTO request. The survey does not claim naps are more effective, only that they are more frequently reached for.
Longer trips receive higher endorsement from travelers
When the same survey asked people who had actually taken a trip of two or more nights, 86 % said it helps keep burnout at bay. This suggests that, while naps are the most common immediate response, extended trips may provide stronger relief for those who experience them.
Southwest’s plan to make trips as simple as a nap
Southwest proposes reducing the steps between thinking about a trip and taking it. By visiting airplanemode.Southwest.com and completing a one‑minute Burnout Quiz, users receive a burnout score and a list of destinations reachable from their home airport—Southwest serves more than 100 such locations.
After receiving destination ideas, travelers can check their calendar for a weekend where two PTO days would provide four nights away, submit the request quickly, and book a round‑trip fare that carries no change or cancel fees if altered more than 10 minutes before departure. The process is framed as taking roughly the same time as watching an episode of a show.
Keeping the couch for later
Southwest emphasizes that the couch remains available after the trip; the suggestion is simply to take the quiz before settling in for a nap. The airline’s approach aims to turn the convenience of a quick nap into the convenience of a short, restorative getaway.
Turning a brief pause into a planned escape could be the next step in beating burnout.
