As I write this, I am sitting on green grass I don’t have to mow, gazing at gently swaying palm trees, and listening to the sound of surf & chirping birds at a location less than 50 miles from home. In short, I’m having a a stay-cation experience. As it happens, my staycation is at a resort with generous summer rates. But staycations often happen at home. The point is to take a relaxing break in the daily routines and tasks of life. It can happen in your back garden, if you can refrain from picking up weeds. Unless, of course, picking up weeds is an activity you enjoy.
People who work more than 55 hours per week, regardless of where the worksite is located have a 35 per cent higher risk of stroke and 17 per cent higher risk of heart attack than those who work 35-40 hours per week.
According to the Center for Economic & Policy Management, America is a “No Vacation Nation.” Quinn Phillips also notes that one in four American workers have no paid vacation. Of those that do, in 2018 the average American earned 23.9 days of paid time off, but only took 17.4 of those days. The total value of those unused days gifted employers with $65.5 billion. The problem is that the American dedication to work, whether from commitment or necessity, is destroying our health.
In actual fact, our brains cannot maintain focus for more than 90 minutes before the mind begins to wander. We need to take breaks for a short walk to get our blood flowing or gaze out the window to rest our eyes. Short breaks can be done during the day. Evenings and weekends provide opportunities for longer activities — a walk in nature, a swim, watching your kids play soccer without thinking of the grocery run after the game. These seemingly passive activities relieve stress.
The luxury of an actual vacation/staycation gives us a chance to declutter our minds and reset our sleep patterns. Watching the ocean while our mind wanders boosts our immune system. Paying attention to our bodies, whether through physical activities or an overdue spa visit or both, enhances our well-being.
Time spent relaxing, no matter how short, whether in solitude or with friends & family is an opportunity to reconnect with ourselves and others. And when I return to my regular programming, the tasks I left behind will still be there if I choose to complete them.
⚽️ ⛳️ 🏄♂️ 🚴♂️ 🛼 🌳 🌴
Sandra’s Books: Sea Tigers & Merchants. Ambition, Arrogance & Pride. Saxon Heroines. Two Coins. Rama’s Labyrinth.
Illustrations & A Few Sources
Palm Trees by Author; Woman Suffering Occupational Burnout by CIPHR Connect; Woman with Work Related Stress by CIPHR Connect; Walking in Woods by Ross; Swimming at Beach, Public Domain; Yogis in Warrior Pose by Dave Rosenbaum. Quinn Phillips. “Why Time Off Is So Good For Your Health.” Everyday Health. Oct. 4, 2023. Rebecca Zucker. “How Taking a Vacation Improves Your Well-Being.” Harvard Business Review. July 18, 2023.
Sandra Wagner-Wright holds the doctoral degree in history and taught women’s and global history at the University of Hawai`i. Sandra travels for her research, most recently to Salem, Massachusetts, the setting of her new Salem Stories series. She also enjoys traveling for new experiences. Recent trips include Antarctica and a river cruise on the Rhine from Amsterdam to Basel.
Sandra particularly likes writing about strong women who make a difference. She lives in Hilo, Hawai`i with her family and writes a blog relating to history, travel, and the idiosyncrasies of life.
