4 Reasons You Need To Take A Vacation
Putting off vacation is easy. Maybe you don’t want to take the time away from work, or the investment seems like too much. But it turns out a vacation just might be what the doctor ordered and could be the key to keeping you healthier throughout the years.
Here are four reasons you need to take a vacation:
1. Vacation Reduces Stress
Vacation can help reduce stress and anxiety, especially if you budget for it and go somewhere that feels like a vacation (read: probably not Disney World, although we LOVE Disney around here!). Camping out under the stars, sitting on the beach, or spending some time walking through museums can help you detach from everyday life and everyday stresses along with it.
2. It Improves Your Relationships
Getting away with your spouse or partner helps create more connection between the two of you. Have you ever noticed you look for notifications on your phone significantly less often when you’re on vacation? Being in a new city or location together gives you a chance to leave your phone in your pocket and make some memories together.
3. It Makes You Happier
Researchers in the Netherlands found that people who were anticipating going on vacation were happier than those who weren’t. Oddly enough, the anticipation of going on vacation creates more happiness than the vacation itself. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get away from it all, though. Most people experience a better mood, fewer negative feelings, and more productivity at work when they come back from vacation.
4. Vacation Can Help Preven Heart Disease
Several scientific studies have found that vacation reduces your risk of heart attack and stroke. For instance, men who don’t go on vacation for five consecutive years have a 30 percent higher risk of heart attack than those who took off at least one week each year. When women wait six years or more to take a vacation, their likelihood of having a heart attack increases to eight times greater than women who vacation more often.
It’s Time To Get Away!
The good news is research suggests you don’t have to go on a long vacation to reap the health benefits it affords. In fact, just 24 hours away helps you reset and enjoy a fresher perspective on life. So Busy Mama, leave the kids at home with dad and check into a hotel downtown for a day or so if you have to, but make vacation a priority in your health routine.