3 Ways in Which Taking a Vacation Benefits Your Health

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Do you know what taking a vacation does to your health?

Work, work, and no rest! The antonym for vacation is overwork; which can lead to various health challenges.

We do have the bills to pay, personal/family responsibilities to cater to, and much more, but there is more to life, people!

Many people say, they cannot conveniently carve out time for paid vacation, because of either their workload or there is no one to cover for them.

How Indispensable are You?

Granted; you might be one of the most valued employers at your place of work, and should you be absent, so many things would come to a standstill, and you are very much aware of how “indispensable” you are to your employer.

However, consider giving this a thought; what would happen if, for any inevitable reason, you were no longer an employee in that institution?

You would be replaced, buddy!

Yes, work would continue without you, and that is how dispensable you would become!

When one does not unwind and take time off external stresses (like workload), it becomes challenging for the body to relax. Relaxation is not laziness.

Here is food for thought: if you work for a living, why work yourself to death? Think about it!

For everything under the sun, there is a season. Hence, a time to work, and a time to rest and relax.

God, who is the creator of EVERYTHING, took some time off to rest.

When one does not create time to rest, unpleasant things begin to happen to one’s health.

Rest is very important for every worker.

An entrepreneur does not find someone to sit in for him/her while he/she is on vacation to rest and recreate, his/her productivity begins to decline.

A very long vacation is not necessary. Rather, focusing on its quality, being mindful of your objectives, doing so with a positive attitude, and reaping the bountiful benefits thereof should be one’s objective.

During an interview on ABC, a stress expert and psychologist, Francine Lederer, said: “Most people have a better life perspective and are more motivated to achieve their goals after a vacation; even if it is a 24-hour time-out.”

Several research studies focused on the work habits of 600.000 people in the US, Australia, and the UK have proven, that people who do not go on vacation are more likely to suffer a stroke and are at a greater risk of having a heart attack.

Here are 3 benefits that await you; when you cultivate a habit of carving out time to go on vacation:

Improved mood

Research studies have shown, that just by planning a vacation, one’s mood gets boosts, feels happier even before the vacation, and is likely to reap its benefits for up to 8 weeks. Is this not great?

Improved cardiac health

Besides behavioral changes like getting physical exercise, stopping smoking, and maintaining healthy cholesterol levels, cultivating a habit of regular vacationing improves cardiac health.

A certain group of longitudinal researchers in Massachusetts followed 749 women for a couple of decades and were astonished to find out that those who went on vacation, once every six years were more likely to suffer from heart problems than those who did on yearly basis.

Better mental health and mental power

Neuroscience researchers have found that chronic exposure to cortisol (stress hormone) potently alters the structure of the brain because cortisol contributes to anxiety and depression.

On the other hand, time away from work gives rise to feelings of calmness and relieves stress thus allowing the mind and body to heal in more efficient ways than they would have done if they were under stressful conditions.

Studies have found that workers become more focused and productive after returning from vacations. Some even got bonuses and pay rises thereafter.

During a vacation, more time is spent with family members, couples are more satisfied with their marriages, and friendships are created. In effect, If your vacation involves some kind of physical activity, many benefits await you.

Are you going to start loving yourself more by being nicer to yourself? No one else can love you more than you! You need to be in good health to do the work you are paid for.

Your family and loved ones need you around for a long time.

Would you rather work yourself to death?

Think about it, and give yourself a break from time to time, because you need it!

While on vacation, take time off reading your e-mails – They can wait.

If you have a friend/colleague who is on vacation, do him/her a favor by not contacting them, because this could cause distractions. If you truly love them, let them be.

When are you planning your next vacation?