When was the last time you had a holiday?

Regular holidays are vital for our health and wellbeing, and who doesn’t need some fun and frivolity after the doom and gloom of the past few years?

Now is the perfect time to plan a holiday.  If you can manage it, allow yourself at least two weeks so that you get a proper break from the stressors of daily life.  

The first thing to consider is where will you go?  While some of us are keen to head overseas, others prefer to holiday in Australia and explore tourism icons like the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, or the Gold Coast.

If you’re feeling cost of living pressures, a camping holiday can be a budget-friendly way to get away from it all and recharge in nature.

But if you need any further convincing, here are 10 reasons why holidays are good for us.

  1. Planning a holiday can lift your mood for weeks before you actually go on vacation. 
  2. Holidays are a chance to get away from the tyranny of the clock.  No more setting the alarm at the crack of dawn; instead you can wake naturally and ease yourself into your day.
  3. Spending time outdoors is great for your mental health.  Being cooped up inside all the time can make you feel uninspired and lethargic. 
  4. A holiday is a fantastic time to indulge yourself by eating your favourite foods and spoiling yourself with a soothing massage.
  5. Exploring new places is a fun activity that broadens your horizon and gives you a fresh perspective.
  6. Holidaying with family and friends is a great way to kill two birds with one stone. 
  7. You can choose what sort of holiday to take.  If you’re feeling bored and stuck in a rut, you might like to challenge yourself with a trip to a foreign country.  Or if you’re feeling exhausted and run down, you might prefer to vacation at a beach resort or health retreat.
  8. A holiday gives you the chance to reflect and evaluate your life.  Are you happy or do you need to make some changes to live your best life?
  9. You can use a holiday to learn something new.  Perhaps you’ve always wanted to learn to surf or scuba-dive; or you may long to learn a different language or take cooking classes.
  10. A holiday means you can make lots of new memories that can last a lifetime.

If you’re prone to the post-holiday slump, begin planning your next vacation as soon as you arrive home. That way, you will always have something to look forward to!

Studies show that holidays are associated with higher life satisfaction, better mood, fewer health complaints and lower levels of exhaustion1.  So why not book your next vacation today!

Reference:

  1. De Bloom, J., Geurts, S.A.E. & Kompier, M.A.J. Vacation (after-) effects on employee health and well-being, and the role of vacation activities, experiences and sleep. J Happiness Stud 14, 613–633 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-012-9345-3