[danaris]

The major root of this is the Protestant work ethic, which leads very directly to the idea that your only value on this earth is the work that you do.

So any time you are spending resting is, effectively, sinful.

Most people don't put it that way these days, but the basic idea is still deeply embedded in so much of American culture.

[Ferret7446]

I don't think vacation would be considered work under the Protestant work ethic even if it requires effort to plan?

[danaris]

No, that's probably true. That's where the last part of my post applies: this is rarely a conscious application of the Protestant work ethic, and more just the way it has shaped our culture to say that rest for rest's sake, and especially taking time off from work just for that, is Wrong. Specifically, it's Lazy.

Vacation is a normal thing: culturally, we have a strong understanding of it, and an agreement that going to visit another country, or to Disneyworld, or for a camping trip, is what you're supposed to do with paid time off.

But just resting? Well, that's just selfish!