65% of Americans are looking forward to making the most of their vacations this year. Whether you enjoy traveling within the country or want to do some international exploring, the world really is your oyster!
Taking mini-breaks is also a great way to make the most of your last few vacation days. But did you know that the majority of Americans don’t use all of the paid vacation leave that they earn? In fact, the average American wastes a whole week’s worth of paid leave each year.
This means that a huge number of Americans are missing out on some of the brilliant benefits of vacations. So what are these?
Read on to find out some surprising benefits of taking a vacation that explain why you should make the most of yours!
1. Vacations Reduce Your Risk of Heart Attacks
More than 30 million Americans are currently living with heart disease. This condition is one of the biggest global health threats in the world at the moment. It can be managed using surgery and medication but if left untreated can result in heart attacks and even death.
However, taking a break can significantly reduce your chances of dying from heart disease and its complications. One study shows that men with heart disease who vacation regularly were 32% less likely to die from their condition.
One of the main reasons for this is that taking time off gives your body the opportunity to rest and repairs itself. This means that it can take care of minor damage before it has the chance to become a serious issue.
2. A Break Will Boost Your Energy Levels
Speaking of giving your body time to rest and recover, improved energy levels is one of the other benefits of vacation time.
During day-to-day life, it is very easy to muck up your body’s rhythms and many people end up putting their body’s needs last. This might be because of work or because you’re balancing a busy family or social life.
On vacation, these responsibilities fall away. This means that you have plenty of time to reset, regardless of what you are doing. As a result, you always come away feeling more energized.
3. Vacations Improve Productivity
If you have a busy schedule to handle or a lot on at work, taking a break can feel like the last thing you need. However, improved productivity is one of the best benefits of short vacations.
When you are in the midst of a large workload you can start to feel weighed down by this. Often this leaves you feeling foggy and means that you work more slowly than normal.
Having a change of scene and a short break gives you time to relax mentally. This means that you will come back to your tasks feeling refreshed and more focused than ever.
4. They Improve Your Quality of Life
Another brilliant benefit of summer vacations is the happiness they bring. However, this isn’t just because you get to visit a nice location and pamper yourself.
Choosing to go on vacation is also incredibly empowering. This is a way of taking control of your leisure time and giving it real value in your life.
As a result, you will come away feeling more in control and satisfied with all areas of your life. This can also help you reflect on and make more informed choices throughout your life. If this sounds good to you then check out these timeshare resorts.
5. Going on Vacation Helps the Economy
The vacation industry throughout America is huge and employs millions of people every year. This includes the staff in hotels, travel agents, airline staff, and accommodation cleaning staff to name a few.
Every time you enjoy a holiday, you are benefiting the national (or global) economy. This means that you can support areas that you love around the country.
For example, if you have a favorite family vacation spot, staying there and eating out at local restaurants will support the local economy. This is a great way to give back to the places that you love.
6. Taking a Break Makes You a Better Manager
As we’ve already mentioned, taking a break can make you more productive in the workplace. However, if you have to manage staff then it also makes you a better boss.
Coming back to the workplace refreshed and refocused means that you will have more energy and patience when managing people. Time and space can give you a better perspective on working situations, which massively improves your decision-making.
If you are a manager, taking a vacation also sets a great example for your staff. This shows them that you understand the importance of leisure time. This makes you much more approachable if someone does want to take time off.
7. This Gives You Time to Reconnect With Loved Ones
One of the biggest benefits of a family vacation is getting to spend quality time with the people that you love. As children get older and your schedules become more demanding, it gets difficult to spend time together without distractions.
Booking in this time away together is a great way to show your loved ones that they are still your priority. It gives you the chance to catch up and enjoy time together without the stresses and strains of daily life getting in the way.
This can also give you a valuable opportunity to reconnect or have conversations that you’ve been putting off. This gives everyone the opportunity to come to the conversation feeling calmer.
8. Vacations Help Your Mental Health
One in four American adults struggles with some aspect of their mental health every year, although not all of them will receive a diagnosis. A huge range of mental health conditions can affect you including:
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Anxiety
- Schizophrenia
- Dysthymia
- Addiction or substance abuse
- Eating disorders
Taking a vacation can have a huge positive impact on people struggling with depression and anxiety. However, it can also give you valuable time to understand your mental health better.
If you don’t often take the time to stop and check in with your emotional well-being, it can be easy to ignore a mental health crisis. Taking a vacation can give you the much-needed time to really get to grips with your mental health.
This makes it easier to reach out for help if you need it and can kick-start your recovery.
9. Vacations Improve Your Quality of Sleep
Sleep has a huge impact on every area of your well-being. It affects your focus, your mental health, and your physical health. So it is worrying to hear that 70% of American adults regularly miss out on sleep.
This can result in:
- Poor immunity
- Weight gain
- Poor mental health
- Diabetes
- Low sex drive
- Heart disease
- Infertility
Going on vacation gives you the perfect opportunity to catch up on sleep, reset your body clock, and create healthy sleep habits.
The first few days of your vacation will probably be very restful. You can turn off your alarms and wake up naturally.
Towards the end of your vacation, however, it is important to start thinking about your sleep patterns. Try to find a decent time to go to bed that will make getting up in the morning easier. This means that you won’t undo all your good work when you do return to your normal routine.
10. Vacations Can Reduce Your Healthcare Costs
As you’ve probably already gathered, going on regular vacations throughout the year comes with a lot of health benefits. This helps to keep your health sustainably balanced and this doesn’t just benefit your body.
Taking care of yourself also comes with great financial benefits as well! After all, the better your health the lower the chances of you having to pay expensive medical bills.
Reducing your chances of developing serious health conditions can also have a big impact on your health insurance premiums. This makes you a much safer bet for any insurance company. So try to treat going on vacation as an investment in your future and you will soon reap the rewards!
Make the Most of These Benefits of Vacations
As you can see, getting away on vacation isn’t just about having a change of scene.
In fact, there are loads of brilliant benefits of vacations for your health, happiness, and quality of life. To make the most of these, you should try to schedule regular breaks throughout the year.
Ready to take a break? Then keep scrolling for more great travel tips and inspiration.
