Why Gen Z women are spending their summer vacations in Catholic convents

Instead of booking beach houses or planning road trips, a growing number of Gen Z women are spending their summer breaks in convents.

Originally reported by Vice, the trend — now dubbed “vow of silence summer” — has young women checking into Catholic monasteries and convents for days or even weeks of near-total silence. It’s a quiet departure from the usual summer scene, and it’s catching on fast.

For a growing cohort of Gen Z women, the idea of rest has taken on a new form: not luxury resorts or late-night rooftops but monasteries, gardens, chapels, and, most strikingly — silence. Total silence, and space for the soul to breathe.

The appeal isn’t simply a break from technology. It’s about entering an environment where the usual distractions fall away and a quieter rhythm takes hold. Without the hum of constant messages or the pressure to socialize, women are finding space to think, pray, and breathe. 

According to Vice, some monasteries are now booked solid for months, as young women opt for days of silence over crowded getaways.

One viral TikTok video shared by @mc667868 shows her experience at a monastery, where she noted, “I booked a vow of silence at a Catholic monastery late last year, and the booking process is really straightforward — you just email the nuns.” 

The video now has more than 700,000 views. When she tried to book again, she found the place fully reserved for three months.

In the comments, others echoed the draw of silence and stillness. “The girlies are FED TF UPPPP and this is the proof,” one person wrote. Another wrote, “Maybe we can start a rest app for vows of silence.” 

Among the replies Vice highlighted was from a user who said, “I lived with nuns last summer… legit the best three months of my life. They are so cool and fun. I worked in their garden and lived in a cottage for free.”

Someone else added, “The call to be a nun is too strong rn.” It’s easy to see why this resonates. The noise of life — digital, emotional, and relational — is leaving many exhausted. Burnout is hitting younger and younger, with one survey cited in Vice’s article revealing nearly 250,000 Americans experience it before turning 30. A few days of silence might seem extreme, but for some, it’s starting to look like the sanest option on the table.