Mental & Emotional Health

If you read any of my other blogs you know that I talk about going on vacation about 20 times a year.  Normally I"m just dreaming of some exotic nice place and sometimes I dream of the places that are familiar.  I knew we had a vacation coming and I was all set to go to Myrtle Beach.  We had never been and it was going to be a blast. 

The more we discussed our vacation spot, the more restless we both become.  This last year owning our own business and then my husband being involved in 2 big projects this spring and summer that caused him to work 12 and 14 hour days for about 20 days at a time, took a terrible toll on our family.  We were ready for a vacation.

Finally, I was the one who said, "would you rather just go somewhere that we know about and simply relax?"  I knew that if we went to a vacation spot we had never visited before we would want to take in all the sights.  And, honestly, with a 3 and 5 year old, sometimes that is terribly unrealistic.  So, the vote was unanimous, we would go somewhere that we knew a lot about (me more so than him, but at least we know what’s what and what’s where). 

The decision was a place I had visited since I was as young as 2.  Panama City Beach, Florida.  I have vivid memories of going there as a child with my mom and dad and then just my dad as I got older.  Then, as a teenager I visited quite often with other teenagers.  Let’s just say, even though a hurricane wiped the place out a few years ago, I know my way around.

None of that was the point I was after, but that’s what happens with me, I talk too much have too much to share.  We will be leaving in a couple of hours, taking or time since check-in isn’t til 4.  We are stopping at our favorite restaurant in Birmingham (P.F.Changs - any Chang lovers out there?) and then maybe our children will sleep a big part of the way with a full tummy.

By choosing to go somewhere familiar, we take out the factor of trying to run and see as much as possible in our 6 days.  Instead, we will hang out in the condo, go to the kiddie pool that has a lazy river and a huge children’s wading area.  We will go down on the beach and play in the sand.  We will go to the condo and do our kindergartener’s school work for the day while the little one takes a nap.  We will go back to the beach and pool. 

We will relax.  We are not running ourselves all over the place.  We will only go to the places that we know are good and we won’t waste money eating at places we know nothing about.  Maybe next year…..maybe then we will tackle Myrtle Beach.  I mean, I want to go to New York and just wander around, but that’s not practical with 2 children nor is it practical when you are really exhausted and wishing for more time to relax instead of more time to run around like a chicken with its head cut off.

I looked around and found some sites that have some great tips.  I’ll link to them and give you a couple of parting words from those sites….enjoy…and as always, tell me about your vacations and your hopeful vacations.

According to a survey at A State University of New York, men who take annual vacations reduce their risk of death by 20 percent.  Men who took no vacations in five years had the highest death rate as well as the highest rate of heart disease.

And, a study by a Wisconsin Medical Journal found that women who took frequent vacations were less likely to become depressed, tense or tired. 

As I mentioned, I have vivid memories of PCB from my childhood and I hope to re-create some of those for my own children.  And, believe it or not, that is one of the benefits of a vacation.  No fancy studies, no research, just plain common sense tells us that when you take time to go out and play and explore the world like you did as a child, you are revitalized by those vivid memories.

And, apparently, it is a belief that employee’s who take at least up to 2 weeks vacation a year are more efficient the other 50 weeks. 

So, hey, let’s get going.

As I went in search of more information, all I could find was reinforcement for what I just said; vacations stave off burnout, vacations keep us healthy, vacations strengthen bonds, and vacations help with job performance.

So, hey, now let’s really get going.  As always…

tell me about your vacations

tell me about your favorite vacation spots

Discuss.

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