4 Reasons Why Getaways Lift the Mind and Spirit
a special feature from Kay Ziplow & Leslie Zinberg, founders

Let’s not spend too much time here on the past; we all know it’s been a challenge. Now we are perhaps in a better frame of mind and wanting to stretch ourselves for some much needed time-out. How many times have you wanted to take some time for yourself, but thought it wasn’t possible? And how many times have you complained how exhausted you are, without doing anything about it?

The fact is we are a population that runs on stress — and suffer from being overworked, overwhelmed and overwrought. Before we give you all the reasons you should step away from the routine of life- let’s not discount the past year(s) in which the word ‘vacation’ really doesn’t apply for the majority. Due to the pandemic, our lives and how we spend time away from the daily grind has certainly been re-defined. However, we can still refer to the term ‘vacation’ and understand it has taken on new circumstances and changed our lifestyles to boot. Maybe now more than ever, it’s time we say, “enough is enough” and learn to put our needs first. Taking time off, and taking a time-out is good for mental and physical health, helping you to come back more productive, strong, and effective. It’s a win-win.

Here’s 4 solid reasons to consider taking a time-out: 

1. Stress reduction:
A study released last year by the American Psychological Association concluded that personal time out works to reduce stress by removing people from the activities and environments they associate with stress and anxiety. A small study from the University of Vienna found that after taking time off from their personal routine or work, vacationers had fewer stress-related physical complaints such as headaches, backaches, and heart irregularities, and they still felt better five weeks later.

2. Heart disease prevention.
A host of studies have highlighted the cardiovascular health benefits of taking a vacation. In one, men at risk for heart disease who skipped vacations for five consecutive years were 30 percent more likely to suffer heart attacks than those who took at least a week off each year. Even missing one year’s vacation was associated with a higher risk of heart disease. And boy oh boy have we all been through a rough past with the pandemic. Studies find similar results with women: Women who took a vacation once every six years or less were almost eight times more likely to develop heart disease, have a heart attack, or die of a coronary-related cause than those who took at least two vacations a year. These statistics are not to scare you, but to persuade you that time off is important to your health in the long run.

3. Improved productivity.
In our perpetual rush to be productive, we often undermine our very ability to consistently perform at peak levels. Getting more done in less time allows us to get ahead and be more productive, but it takes consistent focus to be truly productive. Professional services firm Ernst & Young conducted an internal study of its employees and found that for each additional 10 hours of vacation time employees took, their year-end performance ratings improved 8 percent. What’s more, frequent vacationers were significantly less likely to leave the firm. Another study by the Boston Consulting Group found that high-level professionals who were required to take time off were significantly more productive overall than those who spent more time working. When you’re more productive, you’re happier, and when you’re happier, you excel at what you do.

4. Better sleep.
Restless nights and disrupted sleep are common complaints–often stemming from the fact that we simply have too much on our minds. When we can’t stop the chatter, it affects our sleep, and a lack of sleep leads to less focus, less alertness, impaired memory, an increased likelihood of accidents and a decreased quality of life. Researchers say that vacations can help interrupt the habits that disrupt sleep, like working late into the night or watching a backlit screen before bed. If you have stress from everyday life or work and you find your sleep is disrupted because of anxiety or tension, take time off and learn to reset your sleep pattern.

If you’ve been putting off some kind of ‘time-out’, think again.  This is the time to make some changes, and you will without a doubt reap the rewards.  It’s a win-win situation since you’ll  sleep better, be more productive, more relaxed, and healthier… you deserve it! 

*Portions of article reprinted from: https://www.inc.com/lolly-daskal/4-scientific-reasons-why-vacation-is-awesome-for-you.html