If you noticed there haven’t been new posts recently there’s a very good reason. My husband and I spent last week relaxing with sand, sun and surf in Cancun. Taking time off work is something that Americans don’t do enough. That puritan work ethic which makes us uniquely successful also keeps many of us working too many hours without enough time off.
You probably read that the relaxed mood of vacation leaves very quickly. It’s still important to take vacations for many reasons but let’s talk about how it impacts health.
Stress Relief
In the Framington Heart Study over 12,000 men at risk for heart disease were evaluated for nearly a decade to try to determine what would increase longevity. They were asked about vacations regularly. Interestingly, the more vacations the men took, the longer they lived.
I can tell you that relieving stress for even a week is very refreshing. Of course, that means taking a true break with no work on vacation.
Creativity
If you have a job that requires innovation and creative thinking, it’s hard to do that when you’re burned out and tired. It’s amazing how the ability to come up with creative ideas and solutions comes raring back after a break.
It’s been said that the best ideas come when one is away from the office or workplace.
Erase Sleep & Exercise Deprivation
One of the few things we planned during the week was a daily nap. One reason many people feel better after vacation is that they’ve caught up on rest. It’s amazing how good a full night’s sleep feels.
The luxury of time also makes it easy to exercise more regularly either at a gym or just by taking advantage of vacation activities. We swam daily in the ocean and took frequent beach walks. I hadn’t been getting the same amount of exercise at home recently.
Other Health Benefits
Studies have shown additional health benefits from leisure activities including vacation include lower blood pressure, less depression and smaller waistlines. All of those sound pretty good to me.
We would take vacation regardless of any health improvement. I’m heading back to work today relaxed, refreshed and raring to go. These reasons are important enough!
Do you notice any health benefits from taking a vacation?
One of the best trips I ever took was to Jamaica. We were either at the beach or snorkeling everyday! Really relaxing and a lot of fun.
i love the caribbean!.. seriously, the ocean just has an amazing effect on me, making me feel new again.. but i haven’t been back in quite a few years.. i know exactly how you feel, tho.
Glad you had a great time. We need a vacation so bad, we haven’t been away or had any break in 3 years. We have a family reunion planned for next summer in the states which will be super fun (but busy) I’m hoping we can get back to cuba or alike in 2-3 years!
That picture looks awfully inviting, especially considering it got up to a balmy 20 here in Nebraska yesterday. I agree that we do tend to not vacation enough and having one can really benefit you from a health perspective. my wife and I work in a creative field, and you hit the nail on the head about being burned out and tired and the affect that can have.
Brrr to your balmy 20 degrees. It was gorgeous there but we got to return to San Diego where it never really gets that cold. Glad to hear your experiences are similar when it comes to rest and relaxation.
I noticed that I wasn’t feeling stressed when I got home from vacation Saturday night! But I came home with pneumonia. My blood pressure was down when I went to the Dr. yesterday. Glad you had a good time on your vacation!
I’m glad you came back refreshed, but not happy to hear you were sick. I’m traveling again this week for work but will call soon!
If I go a few days with less sleep than I need, then my body will essentially force me into either taking a nap or going to bed early. Vacation often makes sleep catch-up easier though sometimes if you’re having too much fun, it can actually mean you lose even more sleep, so plan accordingly.
I’m glad your body forces rest breaks. A lot of young people probably do burn the candle at both ends in Cancun but we had a siesta every day and didn’t party very late.
It looks gorgeous! I hope you had a good time and came back refreshed. My husband and I go to conferences with one another sans kids now that they are older, and it is a great way to get away that isn’t too expensive.
Melissa, I’m glad you can get away without the kids once in a while. I didn’t take vacations for years when my kids were young due to lack of funds and also vacation time. It’s nice to get to a place in life where we have more of both. 🙂
Cancun… nice… It’s cold and rainy here now and I would love a tropical getaway. We are too busy this year though. Perhaps next winter we’ll plan something. It’s good to hear that you’re refreshed and ready to get back to work.
Thanks Joe. It was just what we needed to get the New Year off to a great start.