I have never believed that vacations are luxuries.
Alexander Babinets
They are our necessities–just like shelter, clothes, and food
they make us feel like humans and not
like animals that only care for survival.
As if I needed a reason for a vacation. I love my vacations. I’ve gone to lots of different places including beaches, mountains, historical sites, a couple of different countries, I’ve even taken a cruise. Being able to relax is one reason but there are a lot of other reasons why we all need a vacation.
Did you know that taking a vacation can reduce your chances of having a heart attack? By 50% for women and 30% for men. Right there, that should be enough of a reason to take a vacation. Vacations reduce stress, which inturn reduces high blood pressure–which can lead to heart attacks and stroke.
Vacations also have a way of making you feel better as in feel good. Not only do you feel good vibes because you’re relaxing and enjoying what you’re doing. You also create a calm mind because you’re relaxed and feeling less stress.
All this de-stressing, feeling good, and feeling relaxed also leads to better mental health in how you use your mind. With less stress you’re able to think clearer. You feel more creative and more productive. Got a creativity or mental block? Go on vacation and forget about your problem!
Even now, during lock downs and working from home because of Covid-19, it helps to have a vacation. Stay-cations are just as effective if you use the time to do something you enjoy. Try reading, crafting, exercising, writing, binge-watching shows you’ve been saving.
Work will still be there when you return. And when you return, you’ll be in a better place both mentally and physically to continue working.
Thanks for the reminder, and the nudging of “it’s okay to breathe for yourself every once and a while.” <3 I can't think of anyone who doesn't need to hear this from time to time.
Everyone needs it. Including homeschooling mothers of three who are trying to continue their education while simultaneously running a household.
Amen and Amen! I have heard that the real vacation doesn’t happen until the second week, but I have yet to take two weeks in a row. I have found that when we take a week and are able to get away, it takes me a full three days to let go of work enough to relax.
I do like to take vacations even though I am retired and don’t have the stress of work anymore, I like staycations or getting away. I never used all my vacation days when I was working and feel like I’m making up for it now. My favorite vacation is to the beach or traveling with my grown kids to Italy – but that’s not possible now, so I enjoy going to the Jersey shore.
My favorite vacation is at the beach. The sound of the waves is so soothing.
It’s a challenge when you’re retired to think about vacations… as everyday is a mini-vacation in the stay-cation way! But taking the time to appreciate it, to relax into it, to allow it to be the de-stress of a “real vacation” is still a good reminder.
Being home isn’t necessarily a vacation if you’re still cleaning, doing yard work, etc. I usually clean my house and get all the laundry done before going on vacation so that I could come home to a clean house and not lose my “vacation high” right away. Sure, laundry needed doing, but that was small compared to having to take care of the whole house.
Jennifer, “reading, crafting, exercising, writing, binge-watching shows” is pretty much my life right now (along with cooking and laundry). You are so right that it isn’t a vacation when I add the things I have to do into the mix. What I really crave is a change of scenery. I keep looking for safe options, but can’t seem to find anything that makes sense. Thanks for a reminder of all the benefits of a vacation. You’ve offered incentive to continue my research.
The best part of the lockdown and thereafter is that I’ve learned to go slow on things and take each day at it comes.
Hi Jennifer, a true getaway sounds heavenly right now, but of course not possible for a while. I have done pretty well with giving myself some ‘away’ time from the daily schedule while sheltering at home, but this is a good reminder that I need to make it more of a priority. Thanks! #MLSTL
Hi Jennifer – I left a long comment and then my internet died – grrrr. We’ve just booked a few days away for the end of the year (when hopefully covid will be a distant memory). I’ve enjoyed my staycation in lockdown, but I’m ready for a change of scenery and some variety. #MLSTL
Ugh…I hate it when the internet dies while in the middle of writing. I lost a whole chapter once because I didn’t have autosave on. This was the year that Chris and I were going to do more exploring around Florida and also get a chance to go home and see family. Guess that’s next year.
Hi Jennifer, I agree with you about the importance of holidays. When I was working it was like a badge of honour for some people not to have taken holidays for years on end! They were saving them up apparently. But I was always planning my trips and had something planned at all times. I knew the importance! Even now in lockdown mode I know the need for a break away. Take care over there 🙂 #mlstl
I’m so ready to get away somewhere even if it’s nearby. I babysat my daughter’s dog a couple of times at her apartment while she got away and it was sort of like a mini vacation because she lives near the beach.
And still, people so want to get out and away, yet the whole current situation is so unsecure. Will you catch it on a plane? What if somebody in the hotel gets it and the hotel gets quarintined, as it happened here on Tenerife. What if they close the borders and we can’t get back home? I have tried to make most of the time of lockdown, I enjoyed me-time, even more enjoyed the long walkies with my doggy… nature was so beautiful and clean and calm without traffic and noise. I took so many photos of flowers, birds, sunsets… But still, if travelling was just as normal as it used to be, I think I would get a ticket and fly over to Germany, spending some time with my family. My mom was so scared to never see her children again, as we live 3500 miles apart.
My husband and I moved to Florida at the beginning of 2019. We haven’t been back to Connecticut to see our sons or family since. We tried last year and a hurricane got in the way. We planned for May in this year and a Pandemic happening. We may need to stop planning to go back to Connecticut.
Everyone is restless and too many refuse to defer gratification at this critical time.
I just don’t get it.
We had to cancel our little family holiday but we’ve got a week off together in September and we’re planning on some quality family time then. Really looking forward to it. We’ve rescheduled our holiday for next year.