7 Health Benefits of Travel: The Excuse You Need to Take a Vacation This Summer

The society we live in today often encourages and even praises taking as few breaks as we can, hustling hard at work, and climbing our way to the top by whatever means possible. The long-term effects of this stress-ridden mindset on our health, however, are not promising. It’s important to understand how beneficial it is to our well-being to take time off and give ourselves the rest we deserve. Check out these incredible health benefits of travel, and how taking a vacation this summer could be just the medicine you need!

1. Reduces Stress

It should be no surprise that removing yourself from a stressful situation or an environment that’s typically associated with stress can help alleviate those feelings altogether. Stress can actually cause physical pain in the body like headaches, stomachaches, and back pain. When we allow ourselves time to relax, these symptoms can quickly fade.

2. Helps Prevent Heart Disease

One of the major factors of heart disease is stress, because increased stress can lead to high blood pressure and blood sugar levels that can weaken the circulatory system over time. Additionally, when you’re traveling, it’s likely that you’re engaging in at least mild exercise like walking that can help keep your heart strong.

3. Increases Productivity

When you take the time to relax, breathe, and gain mental clarity, it can do wonders for productivity levels. Studies have shown that the more vacation time taken per year, the more productive employees were throughout the year and the higher performance ratings were by the end of the year.

4. Improves Sleep

When ridden with stress or anxiety, sleep quality suffers greatly. From staring at the blue light of our phone and computer screens late into the night to worrying about important calls or meetings the next day, disrupted sleep is something many have grown accustomed to. When we take the time we need to restore, it can reset our entire sleep schedule.

5. Enhances Creativity

When you see parts of the world you’ve never seen before or experience new cultures, the brain can physically form new neural pathways, which leads to fresh ideas and perspective. This essentially enhances creativity by providing much needed inspiration.

6. Strengthens Personal Relationships

It’s easy to get lost in the monotony of the day-to-day, and often that can cause our personal relationships to suffer. We may be feeling resentful toward our partners because of stress stemming from work, or we may just not have enough quality time to spend with our loved ones connecting on a deep level again. Taking vacation with those you love can help strengthen these relationships and remind you why you love each other!

7. Leads to Joy

Through all of the positive health benefits and healing properties of taking vacations, a sense of innate joy can be found. An excitement for life, a feeling of satisfaction in relationships, and the creation of fond new memories all help foster the feeling of joy.

A Note on Safety

Despite how incredible travel is for your soul and the health of your body, it’s important to keep in mind that spring and summer are some of the busiest times on the road. According to car accident attorneys in Indiana, a great deal of car wrecks can be attributed to dangerous driving. Remain alert behind the wheel, take your time getting to your destination, and soak up every moment of your vacation!