Make Vacations Good for Your Mind and Body
Ever feel like you need a vacation after your vacations? While getaways are meant to be relaxing and stress-free, often they turn out to be just the opposite–hectic and tiring. And that can make going on a trip bad for your health. Still, research has shown that taking regular vacations is beneficial to physical and mental well-being and can be just what the doctor ordered. So how can you make your next getaway enjoyable and good for your mind and body? These five tips will help:
Consider an Easy Travel Mode
Busy airports, inconvenient travel schedules, and crowded highways can create high stress, which will start your vacation on an anxious footing. While there are many ways to travel–car, rail, plane, bus–each has its pros and cons. Consider which mode will be easiest and the most stress-free. Cheap airfare that requires all-day travel might be worth swapping for a convenient but costlier flight or the flexibility of driving to your destination.
Rest Up First
Many people work their tails off right before vacation, trying to meet deadlines and get as much done as they can before leaving town. This pattern can set you up for fatigue or illness on vacation, and that will ruin your trip, as well as the prospect of it refreshing and healing you. Instead, ease into your vacation by resting up the week before you leave town. Duties will always await you when you return home, but you’ll be in much better shape to tackle them after a restorative trip.
Plan Healthy Activities
If you want to heal your mind and body on vacation, include activities that will do just that. Vacations that offer healthful exercise, like yoga and swimming, along with nutritious eating, massages, and quiet settings can be just what you need for a fun trip that’ll leave you feeling your best. But avoid overbooking activities and too much structure, which can cause stress. Adopt a flexible mindset for your getaway and allow for days to just lounge or rest.
Take Along Healthy Reading
Vacation is a good time to catch up on reading, especially reading that is helpful to healthy living. Go ahead and indulge in a light beach read, but inspire yourself with some good mind and body health material, too. It’s a worthwhile use of your vacation time since you’ll learn techniques for keeping yourself healthy year-round. Head to the library before you leave town or download popular health books on your e-reader.There is a possibility your destination has a decent book selection. Take advantage of the library available in your final destination. It’s amazing how many great books I read from my vacations, and I did not have pack an extra item or ad anything to my “to-do” list to get it..that’s awesome.
Vacation Alone
Taking a vacation with family or friends may sound like an ideal plan. However, sometimes schedules make it difficult to coordinate a time that works for everyone. Plus, vacation partners may have different ideas than you about vacation destinations, restaurant preferences, and activities. Don’t be afraid to go on vacations alone–it could be the ticket to ultimate rest and relaxation. You can have a healthy, good time doing what you want on your schedule.
Going on vacation is a great way to boost your health, as long as you prepare for a trip that will pamper your mind and body. You’ll appreciate the getaway more than you think and come home feeling rested, relaxed, and refreshed. Isn’t this the point?
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