Vacations are always fun and exciting. They are a getaway from everyday life and responsibilities to explore places, people, food, cultures, and whatnot. It is a time of relaxation and rejuvenation. Studies have shown that vacations act as a stress reliever and boost overall health. They help recharge and reenergize you before returning to work. The risks of depression or heart problems are minimized in this way. But the question that arises here is, what kind of vacation is more beneficial for your physical and mental well-being?
Vacation may be of two types: long vacation and a short vacation. Most people prefer long vacations as they get to spend more days consecutively. But it has its share of demerits.
According to a study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies, shorter vacations have a greater appeal than longer ones. Your health starts increasing during the first days of the vacation itself. It is at its peak on the eighth day of vacation. However, the study suggests to go for multiple short vacations rather than going for one single long vacation. In this way, you can spread your vacation plans all over the year. You can also cover more places and engage in more adventures by opting for shorter ones.
Advantages Of Vacations
Researchers try to establish this belief by associating it with the importance of sleep. Regular sleep is an inevitable part of both physical and mental health being. It would help if you had adequate sleep regularly to recover from the day to day activities of your life. Similarly, going for a short vacation every weekend or alternate weekends can greatly reenergize your overall health. To talk of sleep, you will surely be able to get more rest and relaxation on your vacations. The same study found that people could sleep better when they relax well on their vacations. You can get longer and stress-free sleep during your holidays which in turn will improve your health. Holidays enhance both the amount and quality of your sleep.
The days before your holidays involve a lot of planning regarding the things you will do, the places you will cover, etc. Such planning and anticipations are fulfilling and emotionally rewarding. This is the same when you look back on your vacation days. The joyous effect of a vacation remains at least a week after coming back.
A disadvantage of more extended vacation is the more piled up pending works you have to attend after returning. The longer your vacation is, the more is the workload. Short vacations are beneficial in this regard. You may plan them during weekends or more so for a day or two. Since you do not miss more days of work, you are not overburdened at work once you come back. Besides, short vacations keep you more active and excited as compared to long ones.
With shorter vacations, you get time for yourself more often. You get more time to refresh and relax your mind and body. Apart from this, planning a long vacation needs a lot of time and effort. This is not the case with short vacations. You can plan them easily and get the much-needed break at least twice or thrice a month.