Holidays Make You Healthier and Happier Studies conducted by the Global Commission on Aging and the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, together with other research groups, have found conclusive links between travel and lowering the risk of heart disease and depression. Having new experiences is beneficial for improving brain function and improving mental health. Travel has been linked to stress reduction and can alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. Whether you're going to another country or going to a nearby city for a long weekend, traveling can have a big impact on your mental health.
Vacations are good for mental health. Experts report that the benefits of vacation include “rest and recovery from work; new experiences that lead to broadening horizons and the opportunity to learn; the promotion of peace and understanding; and personal and social development. Holidays and other peak periods can increase your anxiety. Traveling abroad requires much more preparation and consideration than traveling within the country.
All of these elements can exacerbate and add symptoms of depression, even if you leave your daily life behind you. You can remember your travels with feelings of affection, but reducing stress and increasing feelings of happiness after a vacation usually lasts less than a month. Once you have some options in mind, compare them to your budget and the amount of vacation time available to you. And while longer vacations can give you more time to relax, if you disconnect from work, spend your time with activities you enjoy, and allow yourself to truly relax, taking a single day off from the comfort of your home can still be a relief.
But holidays can manifest themselves in different ways, and perhaps it has never been more necessary to take time off. Unless you unusually like the night, widespread darkness and cold make this a poor choice for a mental health vacation. Taking vacations and traveling to new places several times a year will bring more mental health benefits. If it's been a while since your last vacation, or even if it hasn't, here are four scientific reasons to use your days and consider booking your next vacation as soon as possible.
Researchers have concluded that “family holidays contribute positively to family bonding, communication and solidarity.
