Christina Carreau BA, ND

Most of us do not need convincing that vacations are good for our health, as we have experienced these benefits firsthand. But I did want to highlight some of the research surrounding this topic as it is an important reminder to slow down and hit the reset button every once in a while.

Here are 5 Reasons to book some time off:

1- Stress Relief: Research shows that vacation helps reduce stress, anxiety, and burnout and enhances mental and physical health.

2- Improves Relationships: Studies show that vacations improve marriages, relationships with family members, overall connection and communication.

3- Heart Health: Taking an annual vacation has been shown to reduce heart disease, improve blood pressure and reduce occurrences of heart palpitations.

4- Mental Focus: Vacations improve concentration, mental acuity and productivity.

5- Greater Happiness: Vacations remind us to enjoy life. Both the act of planning the vacation as well as the vacation itself have been shown to boost happinessand support a positive outlook.

In summary, vacations lead to better physical and mental health, relationships, performance, and happiness. So go ahead and give yourself permission to take some time off – it is good for your body, mind and spirit.