Getting away keeps stress at bay, boosts the brain, helps families
Holidays are wonderful — except for the stress. What better way to counter that than to decompress with some “me” travel time? Here, courtesy of author and Toronto family physician Dr. Mel Borins and Travelocity.ca are 10 great reasons to get away right now. 1. You will live longer
Research shows both homemakers and employed women who took fewer vacations had a significant increase of heart attacks. Homemakers who had a vacation once every six years or less had almost twice the risk of developing a heart attack as homemakers who took vacations two or more times per year. Another study compared men who never took vacations to men going on annual vacations. Men who never take vacations were 21 per cent more likely to die over the next nine years and 32 per cent more likely to die of coronary heart disease. 2. Set some life goals
Being away on a holiday is an excellent time to collect your thoughts and take a fresh look at your life. The idea of setting goals will help you work toward the positive changes you want to make. Setting goals make you feel like a winner. 3. Increased life satisfaction
Even though you have a stack of bills and email messages after you get back from a vacation, usually you come back with new enthusiasm and a more positive attitude. 4. The world is our classroom
Every travel experience can be used to teach our children about the world and about themselves. Your children will experience life moments they could never experience in school. 5. Reconnect as a family
Often we are so busy that we see our children only at mealtime or bedtime and lose touch with what they are thinking and feeling on a daily basis. There is no better way to connect with your significant other, spouse or children than spending full days with them. 6. Stimulate your brain cells
Research found that there was a direct correlation between more stressful life events and a decline in intellectual functioning. However, there was a positive relationship between vacations and intellectual functioning. Often when travelling to new places you are more stimulated and challenged so you can do crossword puzzles and Sudokus to your heart’s content when you are away. 7. Short breaks can help with stress
Getting away helps us distance ourselves f rom the stressful parts of our lives. If your job has been too overwhelming, your relationships too demanding, or your lifestyle unhealthy, getting away can be a tremendous relief.
In one study, researchers measured blood pressure, heart rate and levels of epinephrine, in participants during both days off work and days at work. They found that all these measures were reduced when participants were at home. Even holidays of one or two days were found to have a positive impact. 8. Longer vacations can decrease burnout
Research found that feelings of burnout decrease significantly during employee vacations. Other studies show that if you go away for 10 days or more the symptoms of burnout take longer to come back once you return. 9. Examine your state of health
Being away is an ideal time for a health check. You have more uncluttered, uninterrupted free time to identify problem areas before you return to the hectic pace of home. If there are important decisions to make such as changing jobs, getting away can help put things in perspective. 10. Refocus your self-image
Many of us strongly identify with self-labels, which have become an integral and central part of our personalities. But our jobs, nationality and religious beliefs can overwhelm who we are. When you strip yourself of all social labels you get back to the essence of you.