“I don’t need no rest, I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” sings country music star Jason Michael Carroll. Well, if people continue with this mentality, that dreaded day of rest will be coming sooner than we thought.
In a global study done by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2016, it found that 745,000 people died from stroke and heart disease due to being overworked. Research showed that working 55 hours or more a week was associated with a 35% increase in risk of stroke, and 17% increase of dying of heart disease.
It’s easy to brush off talk of taking off time from work as “unnecessary,” but clearly, this is not the case. WHO reports that this trend of long-working-hours related deaths is expected to worsen due to the pandemic.
In honor of National Plan for Vacation Day, here are three reasons why you should be selfish and plan a getaway.
- Increased Mindfulness
While at home, we can find anything to distract ourselves from taking the time to sit and be with our thoughts and feelings. Cell phones, laptops and other digital devices keep our minds preoccupied 24/7. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), people with lower emotional intelligence, or those who have difficulty identifying, describing and processing their emotions, used social media more often than those who are more in touch with their feelings. Vacations give us an excuse to unplug our phones and plug into our emotions.
- Stress Reduction
Stress can be a good thing sometimes. It pushes you to get things done, activates the “fight or flight” response in our bodies and can save us in times of immediate danger. However, chronic stress can lead to problems such as anxiety, depression, heart disease and an overall increase in risk of health issues. According to the APA, vacations reduce stress by removing people from the environments they associate it with.
- Family Bonding
While at home, it’s easy to get caught up in work and forget about the little things that make having a family so special. Going on family vacations create bonding opportunities to bring your family closer together. According to the Telegraph, vacations are highly valued by children – both in the moment and afterward in their memories. “It’s all about talking nonsense with your parents, sharing an ice cream and moments of time in which your interests are genuinely taken into account,” psychologist Oliver James told the Telegraph.
So, don’t be like Jason Michael Carroll and book your vacation now (while you still can).
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