The benefits of vacation for mental and physical health

Vacations offer a myriad of benefits for physical and mental health. Stepping away from the daily grind and obligations can significantly improve overall wellness. Physically, vacations aid in lowering stress, reducing blood pressure, and enhancing heart health. Activities like hiking, swimming, or unwinding by the shore can promote physical well-being and revitalization. Mentally, vacations provide a much-needed escape from work-related pressures, granting individuals the opportunity to recharge and decompress. A change of environment can stimulate creativity, uplift mood, and bolster efficiency when returning to day-to-day duties. Quality time with loved ones or delving into new adventures while on vacation can fortify bonds and create lasting reminiscences. Introducing regular getaways into one's routine is vital for cultivating a healthy work-life equilibrium and staving off fatigue. Be it a short weekend retreat or an extended journey, the advantages of vacationing transcend the time spent away, offering enduring enhancements to both physical and mental well-being.

Still unsure? The research community isn’t! There’s a plethora of research now on the benefits of spending time in the great outdoors. Those who spend more time outdoors have reduced stress levels, improved mood, increased physical activity, and enhanced cognitive function. Studies suggest that exposure to nature can lower blood pressure, boost the immune system, and decrease the risk of developing certain chronic diseases. Furthermore, being in nature is associated with better sleep quality, increased social interactions, and overall feelings of well-being. You don’t even have to be doing something physically active in nature to reap these benefits (those physical activity helps as well), studies show that just BEING out in green spaces benefits us greatly.

Studies out of Japan, Finland, and the US recently compared the health and wellbeing of people who took walks in either a natural space (a park or woodland) versus those who took a stroll in an urban area. In all three studies, participants who took their walk in a natural environment had lower blood pressure and heart rate and reported lower stress levels than those who walked in urban environments. Another study of nearly 1000 Swedish city residents found that the more often a person visited open green spaces, the less often he or she reported stress-related illnesses.  How much time is “enough” to experience these benefits? Research backs anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours per week, but truly any time you can spend out in nature--even just a short break during your workday--can turn your mood and day around.

Worried that your time away will negatively affect your job? It’s actually the opposite! Time in nature actually increases our ability to focus on what is in front of us— something that is super important when at work. This has been shown to be positive for our kids as well: Studies with children with ADHD showed that time spent in nature increased childrens’ attention span later on. 

So buck the trend of “being busy = being cool” and take some time away. Our cabins in Blue Ridge await you!