Think for just a moment about your vacation days at work. Have you taken all of them? If not, you’re not alone. In fact, according to a 2016 report by Market Watch, “More than half (55%) of Americans didn’t take all their vacation days in 2015.” Though it may seem self-serving for a travel agent to say this, the reality is that taking a vacation is incredibly important for our health – physically, mentally and emotionally.

We’re more overworked than ever before, and we’re simply not taking enough vacation days. What happens on a vacation? Finally, we’re taking a break. We’re allowing our bodies, minds and hearts to recuperate, to rejuvenate and relax. When we give ourselves a chance to recharge, we are healthier, happier and better able to perform in all areas of our lives.

A vacation tip sheet published by Boston College stated that people who take vacations perform better at work, have a stronger focus, gain new perspectives, and have a decreased risk of depression. It also said that skipping vacations has been associated with a higher risk of heart disease. Taking regular vacations promotes family bonds, allows for personal growth, broadens your horizons, and increases your overall productivity.

A “working vacation” won’t cut it either! In fact, this complete defeats the purpose of taking a vacation at all. The best vacations for your health allow you to completely detach from your job. By the way, studies show that three to four days off isn’t enough. From a scientific standpoint, Inc. Magazine says that eight days is the ideal length for a vacation.

Psychology Today says you shouldn’t feel guilty about going on vacation. After all, vacations break the chronic stress cycle brought on by our day-to-day lives. In their words, “Chronic stress takes its toll in part on our body’s ability to resist infection, maintain vital functions, and even ability to avoid injury. When you’re stressed out and tired, you are more likely to become ill, your arteries take a beating, and you’re more likely to have an accident. Your sleep will suffer, you won’t digest your food as well, and even the genetic material in the cells of your body may start to become altered in a bad way. Mentally, not only do you become more irritable, depressed, and anxious, but your memory will become worse and you’ll make poorer decisions. You’ll also be less fun to be with, causing you to become more isolated, lonely, and depressed.”

If the ideas presented in this post don’t encourage you to take a vacation, I don’t know what will. Even if you aren’t going away somewhere exotic or expensive, you must give yourself the gift of time away from work. You deserve it, and your body and mind will thank you for it! And, when you’re ready to plan your perfect vacation, I hope that you’ll call Ingenious Travel at 888.695.0321. We look forward to helping you create the vacation of your dreams!

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