Need a Quick Health Fix? Take a Vacation!
Scientists have finally caught on to what women have known all alongvacations are good for you. In addition to offering a mental break, time away from work has physical benefits, too.
While they dont know exactly how vacations protect you, researchers suspect their value lies in getting women away from everyday stress.
Stress puts a woman at risk for heart disease and other illnesses. Chronic or prolonged stress also causes a womans body to work harder to correct DNA damage that could develop into cancer. In one study with medical students, researchers found that the students bodies went through more DNA repair during high-stress exam times.
The saving grace from these unwelcome health effects? Vacation. For the medical students, DNA repair slowed to a healthier rate after a three-week vacation from class. In another study, the physical health, mood, and quality of sleep in a group of women coworkers all improved after a two-week vacation.
Researchers define vacation as work-free periods lasting for days or weeks. The location doesnt matter, either. The effect depends on the amount of recovery a woman experiences during her time off. A woman can promote recuperation by making enough time to fit in things she wants to do. In the study of coworkers, the women who felt satisfied with their vacations had the most improved health results. It didnt matter if they chose to rest at home, relax at a resort, or engage in projects around the houseas long as the women paid attention to their needs.
So whether you spend your next vacation at home or away, you might want to include some stress reducers for yourself. Engaging in restorative activities will help your body fight off stresss harmful effects. The following tips are proven relaxers in any location:
- Attend a movie, musical, art show, or party.
- Sit in a room with soft music and scented candles.
- Read a book.
- Spend time near natural surroundings, such as a beach or forest.
- Visit family, friends, or neighbors.
- Get physical exercise. Do something you enjoy, such as skiing, swimming, golfing, hiking, or riding a bike. Check with your doctor to determine what activity level is right for you.
If you feel stressed in your job but cant get away for one long, extended break, consider taking vacation time more oftenperhaps in the form of long weekends. Just try to fit some days off into your schedule. Studies show that a vacations refreshing effects fade quickly once a woman is back on the job.