Do you remember vacations as a kid? I can recall living for vacations. My family would always go to the Gulf of Mexico and stay in a motel on Florida’s Panhandle. We traveled to Flarda, as it’s pronounced in the South, to swim, lie in the sun, play in the surf, and deep sea fish. My mom and grandma would prepare snacks and sandwiches when we went inside for a break from the heat. Thinking back, I can still feel the crunch of sand under my feet as I walked barefoot inside the cool, dimly-lit room. Anticipating those summer Nature escapes helped me through the humdrum of the school year. Turns out, they were better for me and my family than I could have imagined.
As I got older, things changed, and vacations became less frequent. That seems to be the case for many of us. The Center for Economic & Policy Research calls the US the No-Vacation Nation due to the fact that about 25% of American workers have no paid time off, and many who do are reluctant to take it due to workplace pressures. I am well acquainted with that feeling from past positions – for years, I worked through sickness as well as all kinds of inclement weather, when it wasn’t even safe for me to go to the office.
Not honoring our need to get away, however, can have dire consequences. A study from the World Health Organization & the International Labour Organization reveals that working 55 or more hours per week is associated with an estimated 35% higher risk of stroke and a 17% higher risk of dying from ischemic heart disease, compared to working 35-40 hours a week. In 2016, according to their estimates, 745,000 deaths were attributed to longer working hours.
A Pub Med meta-analysis states vacation has positive effects on health and well-being, but these effects soon fade after work resumption. Therefore, frequent mini-breaks should be considered, like long camping weekends at a State Park or even a single day escape to hike or bike a new area.
Vacations can improve mood and reduce stress by removing people from the activities and environments that they associate with stress and anxiety, according to various studies. Further, vacationing increases happiness and improves productivity: a win-win for employee and employer.
A write-up in the Journal of Positive Psychology asserts meditation and vacation may have overlapping effects, providing multiple pathways to boosts in mindfulness. If you’ll recall my post on mindfulness, I shared that this state of awareness is shown to bolster immune function, decrease chronic pain, and can help improve behavior in children due to enhanced emotional regulation.
Once we’ve returned from our glorious getaway, we feel more overall life satisfaction owing to our detachment from work, relaxation, and mastery experience during vacation, a paper from the University of Massachusetts sets forth. The last bit of that statement refers to our tendency to try something new while away – wind surfing, snow boarding, or simply exploring a new area to learn its history or topography.
Vacationing benefits your head, heart, life satisfaction, and longevity. Making a regular plan to escape the everyday and enjoy the delights of Nature can have surprisingly positive impacts on you and your family.
Blessings for Time Away,
Lisa
The original version of this post was first shared in June of 2022. At home or away, may your holiday season be warm and wonderful!
The content of this article is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a qualified health care professional before acting on any information presented herein. Any statements about the possible health benefits of any subject discussed have not been evaluated by medical professionals or the Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or illness.
Micro of the Macro 