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

  • According to researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and Radbound University, subjects tended to have more energy, and be happier with their lives while on vacation. As L.A. psychologist Robert Butterworth attests.
  • A Study by the State University of New York (Oswego) surveying 12,000 men, found that men who go on vacation every year reduce their overall risk of death by 20 percent, giving them way more time to whittle down their to-do list.
  • Lack of vacation time can contribute to slow burnout and a lack of interest in work. According to Christine Hohlbaum, author of The Power of Slow: 101 Ways to Save Time in Our 24/7 World, workers who forego their vacations are hurting both themselves and the company. They are likelier to get sick, and to do their work by rote, without any real interest.
  • According to Expedia, 53 percent of parents surveyed come back from a vacation feeling more reconnected with their family. A Wisconsin Media journal says women who take two or more vacations a year are less likely to be depressed, tired, or unhappy with their marriage.
  • Vacations Can Keep Us Healthy: Taking regular time off to ′recharge your batteries′, thereby keeping stress levels lower, can keep you healthier.
  • Vacations Promote Overall Wellbeing: One study found that three days after vacation, subjects′ physical complaints, their quality of sleep and mood had improved as compared to before vacation. These gains were still present five weeks later, especially in those who had more personal time and overall satisfaction during their vacations.
  • Vacations Relieve Stress in Lasting Ways: It should come as no surprise that vacations that include plenty of free time bring stress relief, but research shows that a good vacation can lead to the experience of fewer stressful days at least five weeks later! That means that vacations are the gift to yourself that keep on giving.

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