Reflections on How Vacations Can Boost Your Health
Vacations are essential for improving our health. They help us recover energy and relieve the mind and body of tension, thereby reducing the risk of stress crises—also known as burnout.
What Research Tells Us
Research shows that vacations improve our overall mood and make us more productive when we return. In fact, just planning a vacation can produce a sense of well-being that may last up to eight weeks before the break even begins.
Vacations create distance between us and our worries, helping us put things in perspective. They also support being present in the moment, since we’re in a different space and time—living in a kind of parenthesis—aware that this period will come to an end. Learning a new skill during vacations can help reduce stress, as it anchors us in the here and now. Minimizing mobile phone use will also allow us to enjoy these sensations more fully.
Being aware of what we each expect from our time and destination is especially important when traveling with others. Whether with family, a group, or a partner, it’s helpful to agree on plans that respect everyone’s priorities.
Tips to Keep the Holiday Glow from Fading Too Fast
- Don’t return from vacation the night before going back to work. Allow a few hours for mental and physical transition. Preparing things ahead of time helps ease the return.
- If you’ve done physically demanding activities, such as long hikes, give yourself enough time to rest and truly recover before getting back to your routine.
- Prolong the joy of the experience through memories—photos, scents, flavors, or even items like clothes or tools from your trip. These can stay with you at home or even at work, helping you relive the satisfaction.
- Use the renewed energy and mental clarity to reflect on changes you want to make—at work, in your social life, or at home. Conversations and experiences during the trip may offer new ideas and perspectives on how others live, work, and handle life.
- Identify what truly made you feel good during your time off, and try to recreate those experiences in everyday life. That’s one of the lasting rewards of a meaningful vacation.
A Healthy Vacation Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive
You don’t need to travel far or spend much. Simply doing something that gives you pleasure—like trying new foods, reconnecting with people you don’t usually see, or enjoying time without schedules or pending tasks—can be enough. Even short one-day getaways offer a chance to refresh your perspective, lighten mental burdens, and immerse yourself in a renewed here and now.
Dr. Connie Capdevila offers support and psychotherapy for those experiencing stress or conflict.
https://conniecapdevila.com/en/