Is it OK to do nothing on vacation?

Downtime is and should be an integral part of any vacation. (For what it's worth, Astley said even a staycation or taking time off and unplugging at home count as downtime.) Work through your guilt by giving yourself permission to not be active, Astley said. It's OK.



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Improved mental health
Neuroscientists have found that chronic exposure to stress can alter your brain structure and bring on anxiety and depression. When you take a vacation, feelings of calm arise and relieve stress, which allows the body and mind to heal in ways that it couldn't if it were still under pressure.

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Take at Least 1 Week Off to Reap the Most Benefits
According to study co-author Ty Ferguson, PhD, a research associate at the University of South Australia, a week or two of vacation time “is long enough for a person to 'settle in' to the change in a new routine in how they spend their time.”

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People who travel frequently tend to have greater life satisfaction, according to a new study. Experts say that vacation-induced joy may come from taking time off from work, having new experiences, and spending quality time with loved ones.

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Even a short trip can completely change your future path. Of course, the longer you travel, there is more time to think and reconsider whether you are fully satisfied with your personal and work life. Decisions you will make abroad do not have to be somehow fundamental, but it can change your life indefinitely.

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Not only are you at risk for burnout, one nine-year long study, published in Psychosomatic Medicine, suggests not taking at least one vacation a year may increase your risk of mortality due to cardiovascular disease. So, not only are you killing your joy, you're possibly killing yourself. Give yourself a break, people.

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While travel anxiety isn't an official diagnosis, it is a common cause of anxiety. Anytime you have to or want to travel, it can seriously impact your well-being. Even though travel anxiety can feel overwhelming, there are strategies that can help you overcome it.

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Listen to your body but also give yourself permission to have a little fun and enjoy things you might not have the opportunity to enjoy at home. When you get home, take a deep breath and don't sabotage all the good that came from your holiday.

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Traveling promotes happiness and helps you take your mind off stressful situations. This leads to lower cortisol levels, making you feel more calm and content. “It also helps us reflect on our personal goals and interests,” adds Greenberg.

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Having a new experience with yourself forces you to appreciate who you are and enjoy the time spent alone. It allows you to open up to other travelers and pushes you into learning and developing new skills. Solo travel creates a strong bond with yourself and your independence, and that bond can change your life.

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In fact, frequent business travelers tend to suffer from health problems ranging from obesity to insomnia. “Oddly enough, those who never travel and those who travel the most seem to be the sickest,” says Soumya Panchagnula, M.D., a family medicine specialist with Henry Ford Health.

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What age group travels the most? Millennials between 23-38 seem to be the age group that travels the most with an average of 35 vacation days a year.

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It's no secret that traveling can be isolating. A stereotypical getaway lasts one or two weeks and is jam packed with activities even up until the last hour. Not only does our vacation turn from relaxing to stressful but the transient nature of our vacation gives us no sense of belonging.

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