These are stressful times we’re living in, but there could be an easy fix: taking a trip. Having high levels of stress hormones, like cortisol, for long amounts of time can put us at risk for health issues and chronic diseases, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and anxiety. But travel can help by letting us step away from our daily stressors to reboot. Dr. Kristin McKitish explains, “Traveling provides our minds with time to relax and heal, easing worries and anxiety and improving mood.”
These are some ways travel is good for your mind, body and soul:
- Travel can improve heart health - Researchers tracked 63 workers and the paid vacation time they took over a year. And the study shows those who took more vacation days had fewer symptoms of metabolic syndrome, which is a group of five conditions that can lead to heart disease, diabetes, stroke and other health issues.
- Vacations can lower stress for a prolonged period of time - That carefree feeling you enjoy while sipping a cocktail on a sandy beach may last much longer than your trip. According to one study, just taking a long-weekend getaway led to a decrease in stress for at least five weeks after the trip.
- Trips to nature can help us breathe easier - Spending time in natural environments like parks, woodlands and beaches is linked to lower risk of health conditions including cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes and mental distress.
- Getaways can make you a better employee - Taking a vacation could be the ideal thing if you’re feeling burned out at your job. Research shows that taking time off from work can boost productivity and creativity and employees who took 11 or more vacation days a year were more likely to have received a bonus or raise than those who took 10 days or fewer off.
- Seeing the world can make you more creative - Research suggests that those who’ve spent significant time in other countries have higher creative tendencies than those who don't. Travel exposes us to new experiences and ideas and gives us a broader vision of the world, which can enhance creativity.
Source: Travel and Leisure
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