January is often a challenging month. We’re getting over the holiday rush, moving back into our regular routines, tightening up finances after splurging over the holidays, while also trying to stick to self-inflicted New Year’s goals. In addition, with the poor weather including snowstorms and dropper temperatures, it’s easy for our thoughts and hopes to turn to getting away to some place warm.
Almost half the population admits to being depressed at the thought of not going away, especially if they did not get away the year prior (Avios, 2013). Why is the thought of booking travel and getting away able to raise our spirits alone, without actually traveling away? Dr. Linda Papdopoulos reports that vacations are vital to both physiological and psychological wellbeing. Human beings need time to relax and calm down, getting out of the routine of running around each time. Humans need time where there are no “to-dos” or “shoulds” and time where instead one can focus on unwinding. Additionally, research shows that people who take regular breaks to spend time with family and friends are more likely to have better self-care skills, report better sleep, and better eating habits.
While a vacation is good for you, it does not need to be someplace that will break your bank. Even taking a few days off of work to go on a road trip, trying a different restaurant, or sleeping in a different bed can change one’s negative mindset. A day out in a new place can have the same positive impact on our well-being as a two-week cruise to the Bahamas.
It’s called a “vacation” as the idea is to “vacate” normal life to a place where we can calm down and unwind, a time to “reset” from our daily stressors. So whether you jet set around Europe for a month or spend a relaxing weekend in the country, make regular breaks or vacations a priority as we enter the new year.