Are Vacations a Human Need?
What Research Tells Us About Taking a Break
By Sabine Bos
As summer approaches, the anticipation of vacation intensifies. We eagerly discuss plans to escape the monotony of school or work, yearning for sun-kissed beaches and coastal panoramas. But beyond our shared enthusiasm lies the question: are vacations a human need or a luxury? Do we truly benefit from them, or has the commercial promotion of summer holidays led us to believe that a beach getaway holds the key to our well-being?
Since the pandemic, education has shifted online. We now spend much of our school day glued to our laptops and then we return home to catch up on homework and assignments. Consider your daily routine. When do you get the chance to take a rejuvenating and satisfying break? It turns out vacations have far more benefits than we might expect.
Physical Benefits
Cardiovascular Health: In the Framingham Heart Study, researchers gave questionnaires to women over a 20 year period that asked how often they took vacations. According to Elaine Eaker, co-author of the study, results showed that those who took a vacation once every six years or less were eight times more likely to develop coronary heart disease or have a heart attack than those who took at least two vacations a year. In a The New York Times interview, Eaker said: "it shows how the body reacts to a lifestyle of stress. This is real evidence that vacations are important to your physical health.” (Tugend)
Sleep Quality: In 2006, scientist Mark Rosekind worked with Air New Zealand to see if he could scientifically determine the benefits of a vacation. Participants in the study kept a sleep diary and wore a wrist device that monitored their quality and quantity of sleep. Rosekind discovered that when the participants arrived home "they were still sleeping close to an hour more, and their reaction time was 30 to 40 percent higher than it had been before the trip." (Tugend)
Stress Levels: The most obvious yet significant benefit of a vacation is its stress-reducing quality. Stress is so normalized in our society that we often forget its impact on our health. Our seemingly ordinary day-to-day concerns can lead to hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Numerous studies have proven that a vacation has calming effects; even knowing that a vacation is coming up can ease your stress for the time being. (Clemence)
Mental Benefits
Creativity and Productivity: Chronic stress can make you less creative and cause memory problems. This can make staying on top of deadlines difficult in high school, especially as the workload and expectations become more demanding.
“A break in the stress cycle can lead to sharper thinking and increased creativity in all areas of your life.” Not only will you be able to perform better in school, but it will also make you more available to tend to relationships and enjoy life more freely. (Goldman and Scott)
Happiness Boost: Vacations are closely associated with increased happiness and life satisfaction. Engaging in activities and experiences that break the routine of our everyday lives brings us joy and fulfillment. It gives us the opportunity to relax and focus on our mental well-being, which promotes emotional stability. The process of planning a vacation alone can elevate mood up to eight weeks before the trip. (Paper)
Strengthen Relationships: No matter how long you have known someone, relationships can always benefit from growth. Vacations provide a unique opportunity to forge deeper bonds with loved ones through shared experiences and activities. These cherished moments become lasting memories, serving as touchstones that you revisit throughout your lifetime. (Wardleigh)
