People love and always have loved going on vacations. People of all ages can have fun in the sand, in the ocean, and just relaxing by the water.
Approximately 52% of respondents to a survey worldwide expected to vacation at the beach at some point over the next 12 months. Unfortunately, for some reason, over the last few years, there has been a shift in America: Americans aren’t taking vacation as often as they used to, and it’s actually causing some serious problems.
According to Health Line, the newfound “no vacation” culture in America is harming our health.
“It gives you a chance to relax and recharge and clear your head,” said Alison Sullivan, a career trend expert at the website Glassdoor. “Vacations reduce the stress that can build up when you are working, working, working.”
When someone takes a break from the daily monotony of work, it can actually help boost energy levels and provide a spike in productivity.
“If they don’t take vacations, employees are less productive, less creative, and think less outside the box,” added Ken Yeager, Ph.D., director of the Stress, Trauma, and Resilience (STAR) program at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
According to the Framingham Heart Study, which tracked workers for 20 years, male employees who didn’t take vacations were actually 30% more likely to have a heart attack. For women who neglected their vacation time, it was an even greater risk: 50%.
Here are a few additional reasons why it’s important to utilize your hard-earned vacation time and go on a nice trip:
- It’s good for your mental health, too — Vacationing won’t just help protect your heart, it will decrease your stress levels, as well. A study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health showed that stress levels decreased when individuals to even quick vacations in a hotel or even inside their own homes as a staycation.
- You’ll feel much more motivated — If you feel like you’ve been overworked, you probably have been. A long vacation can help refresh you and give you a new motivational outlook on your career and your life.
“Most people have better life perspective and are more motivated to achieve their goals after a vacation, even if it is a 24-hour time-out,” added Francine Lederer, a clinical psychologist.