The upside of downtime

Are you feeling overwhelmed, overworked or stressed out? Studies show that a vacation, or even a small break from your usual routine, may be just what the doctor orders. Some of the health benefits include the obvious such as reduced stress, feeling more refreshed and improved mood. As we looked at the upside of downtime further, we found even more dramatic benefits.

A surprising benefit that isn’t talked about much, is the reduced risk of heart disease. A twenty year Framingham heart study found that women who took vacations once every six years or less often were almost eight times more likely to develop heart disease or have a heart attack than women who took at least two vacations a year! Another study involving men showed that men who took regular annual vacations were over thirty percent less likely to die from heart disease. So, you might want to schedule regular vacations!

Other important benefits of downtime include improved sleep which results in higher energy levels. Vacations were also beneficial for lowering depression, increasing a happy mood and fostering positive family relationships. Many families are so busy that they hardly see each other in everyday life. When they get some downtime on vacation, they can reconnect again. Also, couples reported more satisfaction with their relationship when they spent time together in a relaxing atmosphere.

How about the effect of vacations on the workplace? You might think that employers just want to be nice when they give you a vacation. Not necessarily, employers realize that there are many benefits for the business. Studies show that when employees take vacations, employers report higher productivity, stronger workplace morale and greater employee retention. So let your boss know that when employees do not take a vacation, the company could end up losing. Also, it isn’t only people in the workplace that benefit from vacations. Parents, caregivers and most people need a break from the stress of everyday responsibilities.

Here are some tips to consider if you are planning a vacation. Plan ahead whenever possible because even planning for a vacation can be fun and exhilarating. Often you can find coupons and special rates on accommodations and dining. Be sure to leave your work behind so you are not spending your relaxation time trying to solve work problems. Taking pictures and even journaling about what you are doing and feeling on vacation will be a nice remembrance. After you return from vacation, plan a special time when you will talk about the vacation, review any pictures and journaling so you savor the vacation again.

We wanted to talk to some people and find out what benefits they experience from being on vacation.

First, we met Amanda Stamy walking her dog, Baily. When asked how she felt about vacations, she replied, “I love vacations, they kind of refresh my mind and give me a jump start on life. It’s easy to get stuck in a rut when you are just at home for a long period of time, so getting out and about and experiencing new places is a good way to kind of broaden your mind. I was down in Key West for a cousin’s wedding. It was a nice long weekend in the Florida heat so that’s good. I felt refreshed. Experiencing those new places and people broadens my mind and gives me a new jump on summer and life.”

Next, we met Joe Hesse. When asked what the advantages of a vacation are for him, he answered, “When I go on vacation with my family, we like to take some adventures and do different things we’ve never done before, go places we’ve never seen – so we do a lot of different things. Last year we were down at Disney and we’ve been to Jamaica and Colorado and different places so it’s a lot of fun.” When Joe comes back from vacation he said he feels “refreshed, a break from the routine and a way to get out of the rut of things. It’s exciting that way.” Joe realizes the benefits of taking a vacation and he is already planning an adventure-filled vacation for next year.

We enjoyed learning how people plan and benefit from vacations. How about you, what are you planning for your vacations?

Here’s a challenge: Take time to plan your next vacation. If you find that you can’t be away for an extended time, plan several shorter jaunts where you get away from the everyday routine and responsibilities. We invite you to let us know about what upside you experience from your downtime.

Chanhassen residents Doug and Lynn Nodland are owners of The Balance Center. They can be contacted at WeCare@SharingLifesLessons.com

© Doug and Lynn Nodland 2017 Articles and videos may be shared in their entirety with attribution.