A recent study based on hh.ru, the leading online recruitment platform in Russia, reveals how Russians spent their summer holidays and how mood shifted before and after time off. The research service at hh.ru carried out a broad survey, focusing on trends among 1,775 employed individuals and job seekers. The participants were surveyed from mid August through early September, providing a snapshot of holiday behavior and emotional well-being as the season wound down. The findings offer a window into regional vacation preferences, personal routines during time off, and the emotional aftereffects of holidays on different professional groups.
The data show a clear pattern: a large share of people chose to stay close to home. About half of the respondents, fifty percent, spent their vacations at their usual residences. A sizable minority ventured south to enjoy warmer climates, accounting for fifteen percent, while thirteen percent opted for country cottages or dachas. Urban centers also played a role in shaping holiday experiences, with eight percent reporting stays in Moscow or Saint Petersburg, and six percent traveling to Siberia. The Caucasus drew four percent of travelers, the Urals drew three percent, and the Far East drew one percent of participants. These figures illustrate a mix of preferences that balance convenience, comfort, and the desire for respite in familiar surroundings against the call of distant landscapes and regional exploration.
When it came to mood, the survey highlighted notable shifts in emotional well-being around time off. Pre-holiday depression was reported by a minority of respondents, at nine percent, while a larger portion — twenty-one percent — described feeling down after the holidays had ended. The pre-holiday period tended to affect certain professions more than others. Marketers, IT specialists, and accountants reported the highest incidence of negative mood before holidays, with fourteen, eleven, and ten percent respectively. In contrast, upon returning to work, professionals in human resources led the way in experiencing homesickness, with around thirty percent reporting such feelings, followed closely by lawyers at twenty-nine percent and administrative staff and transport workers at twenty-seven percent. These patterns suggest that the emotional transition after time off can reflect job-related stressors, workload normalization, and the contrast between leisure and routine.
The data also shed light on the frequency and persistence of holiday-related mood changes. Among those who experience depressive symptoms tied to holidays, about twenty-three percent reported that it happens all the time, while twenty-two percent described it as occasional. Another eighteen percent indicated that mood swings began within the last two years, and fourteen percent pointed to mood shifts occurring either before or after holidays during the current year. These figures imply that seasonal mood patterns are not solely tied to a single vacation but may be influenced by longer-term work cycles, personal expectations, and lifestyle changes evolving across multiple seasons.
Overall, the study underscores that holiday experiences extend beyond simple rest and travel. For many Russians, the way time off is spent interacts with professional roles, personal routines, and mental health, shaping a nuanced picture of well-being. The tendency to stay close to home reflects practical considerations and a preference for comfort, while occasional regional trips reveal a desire to break the monotony with new scenery. The emotional landscape around holidays appears to be influenced by job demands, the transition back to work, and the ongoing balancing act between relaxation and responsibility. Collectively, these insights offer a richer understanding of how Russians approach breaks, cope with the post-holiday return, and navigate mood changes in relation to their work lives and personal expectations.