All Work and No Play Can Wreck a Family's Health
By Tom Herrin
For many people, the American way is to work harder than the other guys and avoid taking much time off. While this sounds like a good idea, the reality is that everyone needs a break from work. If for no other reason, they need an opportunity to reset themselves enough so that their mind and body can have an opportunity to recover enough to be more efficient. Vacations are offered in most jobs for good reason. Employers recognize that a vacation can be a great asset to a worker’s productivity and satisfaction. There are plenty of other things they can do to improve the health of a person and their family.
Vacations May Lessen the Chance of Death From Heart Disease
Studies have been pretty conclusive as to the benefits of a vacation on the heart. According to one, women who did not take regular vacations were more likely to develop coronary problems. In another study, middle age men with existing coronary problems who took regular vacations were 32 percent less likely to die of a heart attack and 21 percent more likely to die of anything other than age related problems than those who did not take them. That is somewhat striking.
Vacations Decrease Stress
There are so many causes of stress in people’s lives today that it's difficult to count them all. With work, school, finances, relationships, and many other things that can build up stress, people need all the help they can get. Taking regular vacations can help to reduce some of this stress. It is a good way to get the mind off of some of those worries for a while. It is amazing what kind of change in perspective people can gain from just a few days together away from the normal routine.
Vacations May Strengthen Families
It doesn’t really matter what kind of vacation people take. The point is that it should be dedicated time away from whatever you normally do. The time will be memorable for everyone involved. I can still remember the few times my dad and I went out to a new lake that had just been opened and fished and slept in the back of a pickup. We went back and forth to the bait shop there, visited with other people, and ate bologna and crackers half the night. It wasn’t that we did anything all that wonderful, but we spent some time together. It made a lasting impression on me and was a great time together. Plan something with your family and do it. You will all be better off for it.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Brentwood, Calif.