It is necessary and important to rest. Both doctors and business specialists keep repeating this! There are proven physical and mental health benefits of relaxation. We will define vacation benefits further.
The antonym of vacation is overwork
Overwork can result in health problems. Researchers studied the work habits of more than 600,000 people in the US, UK and Australia and found that people who work more than 55 hours a week were 33% more likely to have a stroke and were 13% more likely to have a heart attack than those who work 35-40 hours a week.
Economists have even calculated the most productive and efficient schedules for factory workers and found that working much more than 48 hours a week leads to reduced productivity.
Waiting for vacation can improve your mood
Scientists who studied 974 vacationers from the Netherlands found that planning a vacation makes people happier even before they leave. In fact, the same study found that thinking about an upcoming trip had a more noticeable effect on happiness than any mood change after a vacation.
The vacation does not have to be long. Most people achieve an improved outlook in life and become more motivated to achieve their goals after taking a vacation, even if it was only 24 hours long. And after about three days of vacation, you can significantly speed up your reaction time.
Vacation benefits life prolongation
There is more and more evidence that people who rest are not just living healthier lives, they are actually living longer. Studies of middle-aged men with heart problems from around the world show that they are about 37% less likely to die from diseases such as coronary artery disease if they take regular vacations.
Researchers who monitored a group of 749 Massachusetts women for two decades found that those who took vacation less than once every 6 years were almost eight times more likely to develop heart problems than women who rested twice a year.
Regular vacations are not as effective in keeping our hearts healthy as other important behavioral changes: smoking cessation, exercise, and cholesterol control. But the research results are really impressive.
Another 2005 study of rural Wisconsin women found that those who vacationed once every two years or less were more prone to depression and marital unhappiness than those who vacationed twice a year or more. Overall, the researchers found that the more time women spent without vacation, the higher their stress levels. But even if you can’t find time for a proper vacation, meditate, because meditation helps relieve stress, ease feelings of depression and strengthen your immune system.
Vacation improves working performance
One study suggested that people who take more than 10 days of vacation per year are twice as likely to receive a promotion or bonus. Internal research by accounting firm EY (formerly Ernst & Young) shows that the more vacations people have, the better the feedback they get from their work and the less likely they are to leave the company.
If your vacation includes a lot of physical movement and high activity (which is exactly what is lacking during full work days), it can increase its benefits for your body and brain. Cardio is known to improve mood, reduce the risk of heart disease, and help fight stress.
Take a break from emails
If you can’t get out of the office, at least work remotely sometimes. These breaks can have a tangible effect on your stress levels.
In 2012, researchers asked 13 workers to turn off their emails for one week and plugged them into wearable heart rate monitors. The researchers found that the participants’ stress levels dropped and their concentration improved. Those who needed regular communication with colleagues found new ways to connect.
Katie Dennis, who researches American vacation trends for the American Travel Association, recently called sending emails on vacation “a quick way to destroy company culture.” She believes that if you stop bombarding your coworkers with emails while on vacation, they will appreciate your confidence that they can get it done and be organized enough when you are away.
If by the end of your vacation you feel a desire to return to work, you have a lot of new ideas, plans and desires, then you did everything right. We wish you productive work and pleasant travels.
Benefits of vacation
- Improved physical health. Stress can contribute to heart disease and high blood pressure;
- Improved mental health;
- Greater well-being;
- Increased mental motivation;
- Improved family relationships;
- Decreased burnout;
- Boosted happiness.
Category: General
Tags: vacation