When I was in my much more full time working mode, owning a business and managing employees, taking vacations did not happen very often. I have also spoken with a number of patients, colleagues and friends that also admit that they take few, if any, vacations. Some people have even admitted to not taking one vacation in a number of years. Most of these people run their own companies as those people employed by the government or private companies have vacation time built in as a benefit.
There are a number of reasons why taking vacations are important for us including:
Mind: The cognitive impact when you’re overwhelmed with work can include cognitive fatigue, difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, and impaired problem-solving ability, among several other effects. Taking a vacation provides greater opportunity for rest and better sleep (both quantity and quality), which can help unclutter your mind to create more mental space.
Mood: Taking vacation — and even just planning for it — can also improve your mood. In particular, many people carry a significant “sleep debt” that often comes with work-related stress and anxiety. Research shows that this lack of sleep can result in negative moods such as sadness, anger, frustration, and irritability, which can, in turn, result in more difficulty sleeping. Longer term, lack of sleep can also increase risk of dementia. Vacation provides the opportunity to reduce or eliminate this sleep deficit.
Body: Everyday work pressures can result in elevated levels of the stress hormones cortisol and epinephrine, similar to if you felt you were in physical danger. An increase in stress hormones has the effect of suppressing your immune system so your body can channel its energy to flee from (or fight) a non-existent saber-toothed tiger. Relaxing on vacation can reduce the levels of these stress hormones and allow your immune system to recover, making you less prone to get sick. And depending on how you spend your time while on vacation, there are additional potential physical benefits. Being in nature has the effect of reducing your heart rate and blood pressure. Engaging in physical activities like hiking, biking, swimming, or other water-based exercise can improve heart and respiratory health, while building stronger bones and muscles and improving balance, which is more important as you age.
Take that vacation time…your body and mind need it! The Beach Boys have some ideas for you:
