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"Vacations are usually seen as a time in which you indulge and spoil yourself a little. But the truth is, taking time off is good for health."
If you, like many people, feel a tinge of guilt for going on a vacation or taking extended leave from work, hold that thought. Plenty of research carried out in the past years have shown that taking a break improves a person’s wellbeing. Here’s how:
When left unchecked, stress can lead to burn out.Regardless of how much you enjoy your job, there are times when our expectations for how much we can handle are larger than the reality and we end up piling on too much physically, which takes a toll on our mental health. Taking a break from work is an effective way to clear your mind and helps you focus on relaxing. The fun you have while on holiday helps shrink your stress and anxiety levels, which in turn, lowers your chances of developing depression.
When the stresses from your daily routine weigh heavily on you, it’s normal to find your body reacting in response. According to researchers, stress can manifest itself in many forms such as backaches from hunching over your laptop, eyestrain from staring at a bright screen all day, or cramping, bloating and indigestion due to irregular meal times. All these are signs that your body needs to take a break, whether it is a 5-minute breather or a few days rest. A holiday gives you the chance to break your regular nine-to-five routine to let your body rest and recuperate from all the built-up tension.
It’s scientifically proven that going on a vacation can actually improve your cardiovascular health. The Journal of the American Medical Association and the Framington Heart Study have both found that those who take frequent vacations were less likely to develop heart disease compared to those who do not take vacations. Boosting heart health, especially while one is still young, could prevent heart attacks – especially with age as one becomes more susceptible to the illnesses.
Vacations are also a time for you to do things you wouldn’t usually do in your regular routine. If you’re travelling to an exotic destination, why not spend time immersing yourself in nature? Explore a hiking trail, engage with the watersports activities at your resort, or just make it a point to have a pre-dawn jog wherever you’re travelling. As you experiment with new activities, you might even find something you like enough to turn into a hobby that you take home with you when the holiday is over.
Studies have shown that difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep tend to be related to an overworked mind. Some researchers believe that it could cause a lasting strain on your sleep cycle in the long term. But when you take a vacation, you typically tend to sleep longer and better, because when you stop having to think about work, a load is lifted off your mind. Unwinding and getting an adequate amount of good sleep would not only improve your sleep patterns, it also contributes to a better physical and mental health.
Spending quality time with loved ones is important as shared memories and experiences contribute to affirmative communication and solidarity among one another. The next time you take time off to go on a holiday with your family, friends or even just your significant other, take this as your chance to form stronger bonds. Connecting with a loved one over something as enjoyable and relaxing as a holiday could improve the rapport between you, paving the way to healthier and happier interactions in everyday life.
Internal studies conducted by various employers discovered that performance typically increased when employees took time off, as they were happier and more well-rested. After all, once you’ve spent all that time frolicking with your loved ones, catching up on lost sleep and giving your body and your brain a well-deserved break, you’ll feel restored and rejuvenated. Heading back to work with a clear mind and a cheerful disposition could help you tackle your responsibilities with greater positivity and increased drive to excel.
The next time you see a long weekend coming up on your calendar, make it a point to call your loved ones and get busy planning your vacation together. Better yet, find out how AIA Vitality can help you enjoy up to 50% off hotel stays and flight tickets just with your healthy life choices. More details here.
References
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20936703,00.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/Holidays-are-good-for-you-its-official/
https://www.inc.com/lolly-daskal/4-scientific-reasons-why-vacation-is-awesome-for-you.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jill-l-ferguson/health-benefits-of-taking-a-vacation_b_9384466.html
http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/135/8/854.short
http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/377969
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2863117/
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0018726708100357
https://www.wisconsinmedicalsociety.org/_WMS/publications/wmj/pdf/104/6/20.pdf
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/216443667_Can_Work_Make_You_Sick_A_Meta-Analysis_of_the...
The above articles are intended for informational purposes only. AIA accepts no responsibility for loss, which may arise from reliance on information contained in the articles.
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