Saturday, January 24, 2009

Take a Vacation for Your Health

By David Loren Sullivan

I need a vacation! There may be more to that statement than we realize. Recent studies show your life may depend on it. With a struggling economy and corporate layoffs, Americans are leaning towards not planning a vacation next year.

According to the Conference Board, a firm specializing in private research, the number of Americans who will take a vacation within six months is the lowest in thirty years. 39% of the respondents who took their standard consumer survey were also not considering travel next year -- a low since 1978. Public health consultants believe this is a mistake.

We need a break from the all-time high levels of stress and job uncertainty. A visionary health research project since 1948, known as the Framingham Heart Study, has made major scientific contributions toward identifying risk factors for heart disease. The project assessed and studied twenty years of questionnaires over three generations. According to the data, women who took vacations once in six years or less were near eight times more susceptible to developing heart disease or having a heart attack.

The relationship between lifestyle and stress is clear. Another study released in 2000 that involved 12,000 men over nine years had parallel results. Those men who did not take a vacation at least once a year increased their risk of death from a heart attack by 33% while also increasing their risk of death from other causes by 21%. The results also indicate that mental health is affected by vacations. Scientists at the Marshfield Clinic of Wisconsin report an increased rate of depression with a decrease in the frequency of vacations.

This is real evidence that vacations are necessary to your physical health. It is time to rethink our vacation plans. As budgets tighten, it may be a good idea to consider all the options. The up-and-coming travel giant, MOR Vacations, recently announced a new product that may address the issue of family travel on a shoestring budget. Requesting the time off from work may be the only obstacle.

Almost 25% of Americans working in the private sector do not receive paid vacations according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. There are 127 countries that mandate paid vacations. The U.S. does not. John de Graaf, executive director of the Take Back Your Time board, is lobbying Congress to pass the Minimum Leave Protection, Family Bonding, and Personal Well-Being Act that will mandate three weeks of vacation. It's a tough sell to business, but more enticing than sick time because it is more predictable.

Economic indicators are still pointing downhill. Making up for the negative effects is necessary to our continued health. Allocating funds towards a lavish, tranquil vacation is even more compelling. We all have it coming.

A lifetime travel club membership could add up to be an excellent investment. Steer clear of timeshare scams which require annual maintenance fees and lengthy payment arrangements. Investigate options offering only an up-front fee and a membership that is fully-transferrable. Free unlimited guest travel and upgrade to VIP status for new members is even more valuable. A product like this will leverage your work-life balance and make the most of your travel budget. - 16928

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