Why Vacations Should Be An Essential Part Of Your Self-Care Routine

Thanks to guest contributor, Kent Elliot, for another excellent article:

Research suggests that more than half of working Americans do not use all their vacation days in a given year. Every one of these days is a missed opportunity to rest, recharge, and make memories with loved ones. Taking a regular vacation is vital to your health and well-being, so don’t leave your vacation days on the table!

In an effort to encourage everybody to make time for vacations, here are some important reasons to take some time out and schedule a self-care getaway in the near future.

To Increase Happiness

Almost everyone feels happier on vacation. But did you know that vacations are good for your long-term happiness, even after returning home? Air Transat explains that travelling increases your self-confidence, open-mindedness, and ability to overcome challenges.

Vacationing also helps us learn to live in the moment. In general, spending money on experiences brings us more long-lasting joy than buying material items. Not to mention the benefits of seeing natural wonders or visiting new countries and exploring new cultures.

To Relieve Stress

Stress reduction is one of the greatest mental health benefits of a self-care getaway. Vacations reduce stress by removing us from the activities and environments that cause stress in our lives. Taking a real break from work means completely disconnecting from work-related stressors. So, leave your laptop at home, turn your cell phone off, and try not to think about work on your vacation!

Of course, travel itself can be stressful. Keep your self-care getaway stress-free by sticking to a minimal travel schedule. Instead of hopping from destination to destination and rushing to see as many attractions as possible, consider staying in one place for a longer stretch of time. Pick a serene location like a cozy mountain chalet in Quebec.

Make sure to also plan for emergencies so that you can keep the vacation high going. When travelling internationally, take an extra copy of your passport as well as extra cash that you can keep safe in your suitcase or hotel room.

And if your wallet happens to go missing while checking out the ruins in Tulum, you can quickly access cash sent from family or friends through a site like Remitly, which offers more than 40,000 pickup locations across Mexico.

To Boost Productivity

If you need another reason to take a holiday, consider your work performance. Vacations improve our focus and creativity by helping us disconnect from routines and recharge our mental energy.

Taking a step back from work can also help us gain a new perspective on problems and approach work-related challenges differently. If you’re feeling drained, depleted, or otherwise unmotivated, prescribe yourself a relaxing getaway so you can hit the ground running when you return to work.

Try not to spend your vacation dreading your return to work. Stay mindful during your holiday and remain focused on the present moment instead of worrying about the future. Especially if you’re taking in the sights and sounds of the Tuscan countryside or the breathtaking vistas in Peru.

Unstructured free time is essential, so drop your vacation to-do list and spend some time enjoying your surroundings in peaceful bliss.

To Improve Longevity

Believe it or not, taking a vacation can also help you live longer. Travel Pulse reports that living a healthy lifestyle will not compensate for skipping your holidays. Overworking without taking regular vacations has been shown to increase mortality rates, even among people who make other healthy lifestyle changes.

Studies have also found that going on vacation is good for your heart. People who vacation more often have a lower risk of metabolic conditions—including high blood pressure and high cholesterol—that increase the risk of heart disease.

The mental and physical health benefits of taking a vacation are far-reaching and long-lasting. If you spend your holidays catching up on work or tackling household chores, you’re missing out on these incredible benefits! Schedule a rejuvenating self-care getaway and make the most of your opportunity to truly relax and unwind.

Kent Elliot is a retired architect with a passion for dogs, DIY, and universal design. After a stroke left him with mobility issues, he thought he would need to move out of his home and into an assisted living community. But, using his experience as an architect and with a little creativity, he was able to successfully remodel his family home instead. The relief he felt has inspired him to help others do the same. He created At Home Aging to share what he’s learned.