By Sara Altshul
My first cousin Laura asked me and another cousin, Liz, to join her on a weekend mini-vacation. I knew it would be good for me, but now a new study backs me up!
Laura and I share a July birthday, which we’ve never celebrated together. And though Laura, Liz, and I love seeing each other at family events, we’ve never hung out, just the three of us. So we unanimously decided to make some new family history.
Laura was due for some fun: Her mother recently passed away after a 10-year battle with a blood cancer, and Laura dropped everything to tend her while working a demanding job in television sports. Liz, too: She’s a top retail executive and the mother of three boys. Her workday starts at 5:30 a.m. and ends at 8 p.m.
Compared to the lives of Laura and Liz, my whole life is a vacation; I don’t commute and I don’t answer to a boss. Still, the stresses of being family breadwinner and a freelance writer are real enough. Plus, I haven’t taken a vacation in years.
So off we went to a lovely resort just outside of Atlantic City, N.J. I admit, I worried a little at first about how relaxing it would be to share a room for two nights (and a bathroom) with two women relatives that I haven’t spent much time with.
I absolutely needn’t have. I was stunned to discover how utterly relaxed I became in the short time between Friday afternoon and Sunday. I’m sure the heavenly massage, facial, and spa manicure I enjoyed, to say nothing of the strolling, shopping, pool-lounging, and divine food, and our brief stint in the resort’s fitness room, and the howling fun we had staying up late on Friday playing pool and air hockey, helped me unwind so quickly. I swear I could literally feel the stress hormones leaving my body.
Study says: Have fun!
Turns out, that’s exactly what was happening to me. According to a study published Thursday in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, engaging in enjoyable leisure activities can lower stress hormones and blood pressure, make you feel better all over, and reduce your waist circumference and body mass index (although I’m pretty sure the Friday night gala all-you-could-eat seafood buffet probably canceled out those last two benefits).
In the study, 1,400 people reported how often they participated in activities like vacationing, going to clubs, playing sports, or plain old loafing around. Folks who spent the most time doing many different fun activities reaped the most health benefits. Though the study may sound like “duh” research (what I call studies whose results seem painfully obvious), the scientist at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine who conducted it makes a good point.
“When you’re under stress, the usual thing is to cut back on enjoyable activities because you’re feeling uncomfortable and you need more time to deal with the stress. But these data suggest that’s the wrong thing to do, and that continuing enjoyable activities can be helpful,” says study coauthor Karen Matthews, PhD, a professor of psychiatry, epidemiology, and psychology.
That’s all I needed to hear. I’m planning to take a real vacation with my husband, Frank, at the end of August. Not sure where yet, but it will absolutely be someplace that has lots and lots of fun things to do. Suggestions are welcome!
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Comments (6)
Great advice! I hope all those 24/7 workers out there–and their employers–read this. Making sure people take time off could save them millions in health care costs. Plus, people who are rested and refreshed are more creative and productive. Nice piece!
I am a huge fan of weekend getaways!!! great post. and for you and your husband? I would suggest Montreal. You don’t have to cross the ocean to experience the feel of being in Europe. and if you don’t speak French, it’s way easier than dealing with France. Montreal is a beautiful, fun, quirky and romantic city…always alive, especially in summer. summer itself is a celebration there since winters are so cold and endless. It’s only a 6-hour drive (thru the Adirondacks!) from the NY area and there’s so much to do and see.
and no airport hassles.
I’m amazed that someone had to study this issue. Of course time off is good for you. Just like breathing is good for you.
In America, the 10 days most people get are spread out over the year, to make for long weekends. It’s a rare treat to actually take a whole week off of work. In France, 5 weeks vacation per year is the minimum. Going away for 2-3 weeks at a time is normal. All that is courtesy of their unions. Why do Americans hate unions?
Amazing. study… Now if only I can find a FULL TIME job, which enables me to have vacation time, sometimes paid, which enables me to be able to AFFORD to go on a getaway weekend, let alone a vacation! I work part time, cannot get full time, so if I do take “vacation” time, I not only have to pay for what it is I need to do, but also lose the income I need to pay my normal bills. I worked 51 weeks last year, with no benefits, and grossed under $13,000.
I work for a national retailer which loves to show off for “Extreme Home Makeover” and nice, gracious things for our Veterans…..but they have a bare bones payroll which relies on “cheapest” PART time workers.
And I thought WalMart was not fair to employees!
Take an impulse trip. Last fall (off season-cheaper) we took an impulse trip to the beach. Just 2 nights there. The hotels are a LOT cheaper in the off season, leaving you more money to have fun with. This was a true impulse in that we had no hotel booked, no plans made. Just went. It was absolutely the best vacation we ever had. You just do whatever you feel like doing!
Thank you, I needed to convince myself to force my wife and I to get out of Dodge. The cost of my mini cruise to Mexico has now been justified. Yeah!
MCK