Cover Picture by Andrea Sollie
Did you know there is a National Plan for Vacation Day?! The next one is January 29, 2019, but there is good reason to avoid waiting. While there are many benefits to travel and taking vacation days, according to recent data, only 46 percent of employees used all their time in 2016 (giving up $66.4 billion in employee benefits). If you think being a “work martyr” will benefit your career, keep in mind that, actually, self-proclaimed work martyrs are less likely to receive a raise or bonus, but they do, however, earn more stress! It turns out that the decrease in burnout rates and other health benefits ends up being a win/win for the employee and their employer, while unused vacation days, results in many Americans missing out on positively impacting their health and well-being.
Let’s look at the benefits…*
Heart Health: A study found that women who vacationed at least twice a year had a significantly lower risk of a heart attack or coronary death compared to those that vacationed every six years or less. While men who didn’t vacation had a 20% higher risk of all-cause mortality, and 30% greater risk of death from heart disease.
Brain Health: This same study found travel offers the same sort of physical and cognitive benefits as crossword puzzles or museum visits. Dr. Paul Nussbaum, Ph.D., ABPP, president and founder of the Brain Health Center, Inc., a clinical neuropsychologist, explains that travel “challenges the brain with new and different experiences and environments, it is an important behavior that promotes brain health and builds brain resilience.” Neural pathways are influenced by environment and habits, so "changing it up" sparks different synapses in the brain and may have the potential to revitalize the mind. There's a powerful relationship between travel and healthy aging because it requires us to think, plan and act differently.
Emotional Health: Those who travel are significantly more satisfied in mood and outlook compared to those who do not travel. Seventy-seven percent of Americans who travel report satisfaction with their physical health and well-being while only 61 percent of those who do not travel say the same. Benefits of travel are almost immediate. After only a day or two, 89% of respondents saw significant drops in stress. In addition, travel allows us to strengthen bonds with family and friends, which in turn leads to improved emotional health.
Physical Health: Travel is a great way to give a jumpstart to increasing physical activity. Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of survey respondents report walking more on trips and getting more exercise than they do at home. As soon as three days into a vacation, physical complains improve. In another study, five weeks after the vacation individuals still reported less physical complaints than before vacation.
Self-Confidence: Even if you don't enjoy your first attempt at horseback riding, at least you'll be able to relate to the world around you in a new way. Travel enhances self-confidence through providing opportunities to get outside of our comfort zones, take responsible risks, and problem-solve.
Gratitude: Remember the benefits of gratitude!?! Travel allows us to have a new perspective, and if done right, gives us time to relax and reflect, and therefore, encourages gratitude.
*Yes, researchers did account for income levels and preexisting poor health.
Picture by Andrea Sollie
Vacation and travel interupt the "status que" and allow us to leave the usual routine, which might be just what we need to find better health!
What About Barriers to Travel...
The lack of financial resources is the largest barrier, but it is worth saving for travel as a means to live longer, healthier and more fulfilled lives. Research indicates that experiential purchases made people happier than material purchases, because of the pleasure that anticipating the experience brought, the increased likelihood for positive reinterpretations, the connectedness it has to one's identity, and their contribution to successful social relationships. Travel is a valuable investment.
Stay-cations will allow us to gain health benefits on a smaller budget. Greater impact occurs during international travel, so whether traveling or planning a "stay-cation", consider checking out new areas and activities that allow you to step outside of your comfort zone. As travel writer, Pico Iyer, puts it, "Travel is not really about leaving our home, but leaving our habits."
Finally, there is the "mini-vacation", this is really about an attitude. It runs counter to our how-are-you-I'm-so-busy culture. Instead, it is about building time, mindfulness, play, flexibility and risk into our days. I might need an entire blog post for this topic, so I'll just leave it with a poem from Timothy Ferriss' book, "The 4-Hour Workweek". This poem was sent to him by a terminally ill girl.
SLOW DANCE
Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask: How are you?
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done,
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?
You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say, "Hi"?
You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift thrown away.
Life is not a race.
Do take it slower.
Hear the music
Before the song is over.
Wendy Dellis is a certified wellness coach. She joins years of training and work in the area of behavior change, experience as a fitness instructor and run club coordinator with a passion for adventure and people. She lives in Minnesota with her husband, Jay, and two sons.
The information contained on this page is for general information purposes only. Nothing here should be construed as medical or healthcare advice, but only topics for discussion. No physician-patient relationship exists; please consult your physician before making changes in diet or lifestyle.