I am on my way back from a short relaxing break with my family. It is always a lovely time to rest and recharge for the rest of the year. Vacations are not a luxury; they are a necessity for a well-balanced, healthy life as important as eating well and getting exercise
Around the world, this time of the year is typically a time for taking vacations – The Italians take almost 1 month to go on vacation! It is just past mid-year, so children are back from school and it is a great opportunity to spend quality time with their parents.
Taking some time out to rest and recharge is vital. It does not have to involving using your life savings to do this. It is an investment in the quality of your life that should be planned and saved for. A change of environment usually helps, even it means going to the village (when it is not too busy) or checking into a hotel for a few days (called a staycation).
Vacation is also not about shopping, shopping and more shopping, or being so busy that you do not even have the time to rest, especially if you have had a busy six months. I have had a several people tell me they are too busy to take a break. I respond by saying that the world will continue forward if you drop dead tomorrow. No one is so indispensable!
A number of studies have shown that taking time away from the job and business can have physical and psychological health benefits. People who take vacations have lower stress, less risk of heart disease, a better outlook on life, and more motivation to achieve goals.
Some of the benefits (as culled from Alina Health) include
• Improved physical health: Taking a vacation helps to reduce stress. As you know, stress can contribute to heart disease and high blood pressure.
• Improved mental health: Neuroscientists have found that brain structure is altered by chronic exposure to the stress hormone cortisol, which can be a major contributing factor to anxiety and depression. Feelings of calm arise from time away from work and relieve stress, which allows the body and mind to heal in ways that it couldn’t if it were still under pressure.
• Greater well-being: One study found that three days after vacation, subjects’ physical complaints, quality of sleep, and mood had improved as compared to before vacation. These gains were still present five weeks later, especially in those who had more personal time and overall satisfaction during their vacation.
• Increased mental power: Upon returning from vacation, workers are often more focused and productive. Studies have found that chronic stress can actually modulate a part of the brain that inhibits goal-directed activity and can cause problems with memory. Time off can tune up a well-functioning brain.
• Improved familial relationships: Spending time enjoying life with loved ones can keep relationships strong.
• Decreased burnout: Workers who take regular time to relax are less likely to experience burnout, making them more creative and productive than their overworked, under-rested counterparts.
• Planning alone boosts happiness: Research shows the biggest boost in happiness comes from planning the vacation. A person can feel the effects up to eight weeks before the trip!
Question: What plans do you have to rest and recharge this year?