Taking a Break? Plan an Active Vacation
Time away from work isn't a luxury; it's a health necessity. Why? Escaping from work can help your body restore itself. Make your getaway one that includes lots of physical activity to get even more return on your investment.
About a third of American workers don't take as much vacation as they're entitled to. Women are less likely than men to take a two-week vacation and more likely to feel guilty about taking time off, according to a national survey. That's too bad because getting away from work hassles can help with health problems caused by stress, including
Live Better Longer
Vacations and other leisure activities also boost life satisfaction, dampen depression, and may help us live longer, according to a recent study in Psychosomatic Medicine. Study participants with fewer leisure activities had higher blood pressure and stress hormones, and more fat around the middle—factors linked to illness and earlier death.
Find Balance
For a truly stress-busting break, plan for both physical activity and relaxation. Here are some ideas to get you moving on your next vacation:
-
Look for a resort or hotel with exercise opportunities, such as yoga, tennis, bicycle rental, golf, or a gym.
-
Find a beach where you can walk for miles, swim, or snorkel, or try sea kayaking.
-
Take a trip to a river for white-water rafting or canoeing.
-
Make a mountain your destination for hiking or biking.
-
Vacation in a historic city and walk from one place to the next.