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Holidaily intervention reduces work-related rumination in workers over two weeks compared with waitlist controlsGamified App Helps Workers Reduce Work-Related Thinking

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Key Takeaway
Consider Holidaily as a scalable digital intervention to reduce work-related rumination in workers.

This randomized controlled trial evaluated Holidaily, a low-threshold, gamified mobile health intervention, in a population of 190 workers from the general population. Participants were randomized to receive the intervention or serve as waitlist controls. Assessments occurred two weeks prior to vacation and two weeks after the return to work. No adverse events, serious adverse events, discontinuations, or specific tolerability data were reported in the study.

The primary outcome measured was work-related rumination. Results indicated significantly lower levels of work-related rumination in the intervention group compared with controls, with a p-value less than 0.05. The absolute numbers and specific effect sizes were not reported. The study also assessed a wide range of exploratory outcomes given the novelty of the research.

Safety and tolerability details were not reported. The study design supports causal inference regarding the intervention effect on work-related rumination. However, the novelty of the research and the assessment of exploratory outcomes represent key limitations. Holidaily appears to improve workers' ability to reduce levels of work-related rumination, highlighting the potential of scalable digital interventions to foster sustainable mental health in working populations and support preventive public health efforts.

Researchers tested a mobile health app called Holidaily with 190 workers from the general population. The goal was to see if the tool could help people stop thinking about work when they should be resting. This study focused on rumination, which involves repetitive thoughts about job stress. The trial ran over a specific period around vacation time.

Participants used the gamified intervention for a period surrounding their vacation time. Those who used the app reported significantly lower levels of work-related rumination compared to the control group who waited to use it. The difference was statistically significant.

The study did not report any safety concerns or side effects from using the application. However, researchers noted the novelty of the research and assessed many exploratory outcomes. This means more data is needed to confirm long-term effects.

This randomized trial suggests the app may support mental health in working populations. It highlights the potential for scalable digital tools to assist with preventive health efforts. Workers interested in managing stress might find this approach useful.

What this means for you:
The Holidaily app helped workers reduce repetitive thoughts about work during vacation periods.

Study Details

Study typeRct
EvidenceLevel 2
PublishedApr 2026
View Original Abstract ↓
Vacations reliably improve indicators of mental health, largely by providing relief from work-related stress. Low levels of work-related rumination, a key transdiagnostic factor linked to burnout and depression, are considered prerequisites for successful recovery both during vacations and in daily working life. However, such benefits are typically short-lived, with a rapid “fade-out” upon return to work. To address this challenge, we developed Holidaily, a low-threshold, gamified mobile health intervention designed to translate recovery science into daily digital practice and sustain the mental health gains of vacations. In a randomized controlled trial (RCT), Holidaily was evaluated as a digital mental health intervention targeting work-related rumination, the primary outcome. Assessments were conducted two weeks prior to vacation and two weeks after the return to work, before waitlist controls were granted access. Given the novelty of the research, a wide range of exploratory outcomes was also assessed. A total of 190 workers from the general population were randomized to either the intervention (n = 91) or waitlist control group (n = 99). ANCOVA, in accordance with the intention-to-treat principle, indicated that the intervention group reported significantly lower levels of work-related rumination at two weeks post-vacation compared with controls [p  This is the first RCT to show that the rapid fade-out of vacation benefits is not inevitable. Holidaily appears to improve workers’ ability to reduce levels of work-related rumination. These results highlight the potential of scalable digital interventions to foster sustainable mental health in working populations and support preventive public health efforts. https://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00013650, German WHO DRKS00013650.
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