Although it’s been a strangely mild winter here in the U.S., we’re approaching that time of year when many of us are longing for a getaway. After all, we’ve had a few months to recover from the busy holiday season — and COVID, flu, and RSV infection rates are finally declining after a massive post-holiday spike.
Plus, since spring break is right around the corner, it’s natural to want to plan some time away with our kids and partners. After another crazy-busy year that included everything from writing and publishing my first book, moving back to the U.S. after living abroad for 15 years, and obtaining my Functional Medicine Practitioner Certification through the School of Applied Functional Medicine, I know I could use some time away with my family!
But the sad thing is this: the guilt of traveling is what prevents so many of us from booking vacations that could truly benefit the mind, body, and soul. The guilt of leaving our pets and loved ones behind, the guilt of spending money that could be used on seemingly more important expenses like bills and home upkeep, and even guilt over the environmental impact of traveling somewhere so far away.
While these reasons are all valid, vacations are also incredibly beneficial for health and well-being. And caring for your physical, mental, and emotional well-being is something you should never feel guilty about! Let’s look at a few health benefits of travel so you can brush that guilt aside and plan a getaway I know you deserve.
Travel Gets You Moving
If you’re like 80 percent of the U.S. workforce, you sit for at least 75 percent of your workday — putting you at risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases in the future like heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and insulin resistance. But since many vacations end up being fairly active as you rush through airports, explore a new city, walk along a sandy coastline, or hike a mountain, traveling promotes movement and increases physical activity (even if it’s unintentional!).
Along with promoting physical activity, travel offers other physical health benefits as well. Research suggests that yearly vacations may reduce the risk of dying from heart disease, while more frequent vacations are associated with a decreased risk of metabolic syndrome. Sounds like a win-win to me!
Vacations Boost Psychological Health
Though it may come as no surprise, reduced stress is just one of the many mental health benefits of travel. And while earlier studies have suggested that vacations of seven consecutive days or longer are best for psychological health, newer research tells us that even four days can do the trick! A four-day getaway is the perfect amount of time to check out a new city, travel somewhere warm and beachy, or visit one of the national parks on your bucket list.
According to the study, short-term vacations have positive and immediate effects on perceived stress and well-being — with positive effects lasting up to 45 days post-vacation. That’s more than a month of improved psychological well-being from one short getaway!
Another study came to a similar conclusion, reporting a reduction in work-related stress, negativity, hostility, and physical aggression well after vacationing. And while these positive effects were more commonly reported among workers with low-stress jobs, it’s a good reminder of just how vital a regular self-care routine is for those with high-stress careers.
Travel Increases Social Awareness
We don’t automatically think of social awareness as a form of physical, mental, or emotional health, but our emotional intelligence and ability to empathize with others absolutely affects our psychological well-being. And since travel allows us to take in new sights, smells, and sounds; connect with people from other cultures; and experience ways of life that differ from our own, it also cultivates empathy and increases our social awareness.
If you’ve read my book Passports & Parasites, you know I’ve spent the past 15 years traveling back and forth between war-torn cities like Baghdad, the U.S., and tropical, beachy getaways like Curaçao (if you haven’t read the book yet, download your free chapter here). And while I had traveled abroad prior to this, there were so many things I experienced during this 15-year period that inspired my career shift into functional medicine coaching, health advocacy, and health activism.
Traveling the world, immersing myself in different cultures, and enduring various hardships along the way (like parasites) ultimately cultivated more compassion and empathy for myself and for others. And now I encourage you to pack your suitcase, grab your passport, and get out there and do the same. Just without the parasites!
Ready to learn more about what you can do to improve your physical, mental, and emotional wellness? Schedule a 45 Minute Consultation with me to learn how functional medicine health coaching can help to improve your health and well-being.
References:
- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1161/JAHA.117.007735
- https://journals.lww.com/psychosomaticmedicine/abstract/2000/09000/are_vacations_good_for_your_health__the_9_year.3.aspx
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333838209_Vacation_frequency_is_associated_with_metabolic_syndrome_and_symptoms
- https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/1/130
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32877234/
