Previously published in the Galveston Daily News on July 9, 2025
My family and I recently returned from a week-long vacation with some close friends. It was a wonderful time of laughter, relaxation, and the occasional change of plans due to weather. As I came back to work, I realized much of the tension I had before our vacation had resolved, and I was able to focus with renewed vigor. I thought I would share with you the health benefits of taking a vacation.
Intentional time for rest and relaxation has numerous health benefits including reduced stress, improved mood, lower levels of anxiety and depression, and improved creativity. Studies have found that taking a break from the daily stressors allows us to recharge and be better suited to the daily stressors when we return to work. Studies have also found that symptoms of anxiety and depression are lower in individuals who take regular breaks are able to stop ruminations and worry more effectively than those who do not. Additionally, when we change our scenery or pace of life, it can improve our creativity and help us view problems from a different perspective.
On a more physical level, vacation can help reduce our risk of heart disease and cardiovascular events. In 2000, a study was done that found individuals who took more annual vacations lowered their risk of a heart attack by about 20% compared to those who opted to not take time off. We also see that vacations help with our sleep both in terms of amount and quality, which is vital to our health. Depending on the type of vacation, extra physical activity and exercise during a vacation can also improve our health. As Dr. Sierpina regularly reminds us, “Motion is lotion!” for our joints, mood, and heart health. Finally, some studies have found that regular vacations may also impact our blood sugar levels (though this has more to do with our diet than the act of travel).
So how do we vacation well? One of the primary aspects of getting the health benefits of vacation is to plan it correctly. Many vacations could actually worsen our health more than help if we don’t take the necessary precautions to ensure we are eating well and getting appropriate exercise and sleep during our vacation. For example, our vacation took us to the beach where we played in the water or swam daily. We also stayed somewhere with a kitchen, so we were able to make our own meals instead of eating out for every meal. These little shifts gave us the extra boost we needed to ensure our vacation was restful and improved our health.
Lastly, I want to recognize that vacations can happen even if we don’t have the time or finances to do a prolonged trip. Mini breaks and focused time to relax and pursue our hobbies or spend time with those we care about can also be just as effective as taking a cruise or going away for a week. The important part is that we take time to care for ourselves however we are able to do so.