Why a Vacation?
Chronic Stress
Chronic stress takes its toll in part on our body’s ability to resist infection, maintain vital functions, and even ability to avoid injury. When you’re stressed out and tired, you are more likely to become ill, your arteries take a beating, and you’re more likely to have an accident. Mentally, not only do you become more irritable, depressed and anxious, but your memory will become worse and you’ll make poorer decisions.
Vacations and Stress
Clearly then, stress is not a good thing. Even people who claim to love the high-pressured lifestyle will admit, in their quieter moments, that there are times when they just want to get way from it all, if only for a short time.
Vacations have the potential to break into the stress cycle. We emerge from a successful vacation feeling ready to take on the world again. We gain perspective on our problems, get to relax with our families and friends, and get a break from our usual routines. That’s if the vacation is “successful”.
Research and Vacations
Where Vacation is Especially Relevant:
All the above was written regarding people who are leading a normal day-to-day life, without any specific struggles. How much more so, do you think someone who is not well and is going through a difficult period in their life, can use a vacation?
References:
Joudrey, A.D. & Wallace, J.E. (2009). Leisure as a coping resource: A test of the job demand-control-support model. Human Relations, 62, 195-217.
Lehto, X. Y., Choi, S., Lin, Y., & MacDermid, S.M. (2009). Vacation and family functioning. Annals of Tourism Research, 36, 459-479.
McCabe, S. (2009). Who needs a holiday? Evaluating social tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 36, 667-688.th.htm
Ami Living Magazine 2013