We often get caught up in the day to day and forget about taking time off for ourselves. When was the last time you did something just for you? A break in your routine away from daily life stressors may be just what you need to recharge and come back refreshed. More and more people talk about taking a mental health day. What you may really need is a week or so to unplug.
Go On Vacation
A vacation doesn’t need to be to a faraway place that takes tons of planning. It can simply be a 3 hour road trip to somewhere you haven’t explored yet or something that stirs up some wonderful memories from childhood for example.
Benefits of Vacation
Once you take that time for yourself, you will wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. Some companies encourage taking vacation time. Studies show vacation can actually help improve productivity, elevate mood, overall wellness, focus and stimulate creativity. There are so many benefits to taking that time for yourself. Most importantly, you deserve that vacation.
A vacation also decreases the risk of burnout. Sometimes you just need to step away and immerse yourself in a different environment. Go somewhere that you don’t have to think about a lengthy to do list and all the stressors that come along with your job. It can help you refresh, look at things from a new perspective and perhaps even come up with your next big idea.
Nature Vacations
There are tremendous benefits to a nature vacation in allowing you to recharge. A considerable amount of data supports the idea that nature helps foster creativity, improve moods, reduces stress and boosts cognitive function. Wow that’s a lot! Furthermore, a study from Frontiers in Psychology shows 20 minutes in nature about 3 days a week reduces stress hormone levels, a clear wellness benefit. I always feel this sense of calm when I go on a nature walk. I immediately feel a release of tension, my entire body feels more relaxed and I am in awe at the power of nature.
It also makes me think of these amazing childhood memories when we would go on vacation. I fondly remember our trips to Upstate New York, cooking out, playing outdoor games and all the joy that goes with experiencing things through a kids eye.
Shinrin-Yoku
Shinrin-Yoku is the Japanese term for nature therapy which is a focus on the health benefits of immersing yourself in nature as a preventative step towards increasing your mental and physical wellbeing. It also fosters a connection with nature. Personally, I found it fascinating. The literal translation for the term is forest bathing.
Where ever your travels may take you, I hope you take this well-deserved time to truly enjoy all the wonders that surround us. There is so much beauty all around us. We just have to take the time to explore it. Don’t wait to start checking off that bucket list. Why not go on vacation. There are so many precious memories to create that you will think back on fondly. Happy travels!
