It’s August, which for many Europeans means taking almost the entire month off. So why is it difficult to get Americans to take even the little vacation time they receive? A recent piece in The Economist states workers in the U.S. are doing it “all wrong” by taking short holidays — which can add even more stress — or taking none at all. Instead, it’s important for employees to recharge their batteries for lengthier periods. Similarly, it’s beneficial for companies to have a predictable holiday month during which junior employees can head to the beach and managers can take stock of things, says the report.