1. Regain your fitness
Experts believe that we can reclaim up to 30 per cent of our
fitness just by going on holidays. Vacations force us to exercise because we
walk greater distances, swim, chase the kids around and play sports. Just
standing upright instead of sitting down at a desk all day help you look and
feel fitter. Regular movement during the day also boosts your circulation and
gets your blood pumping which ups your heart rate and immune system.
2. Rebuild your body
Without the stress of the nine to five grind our bodies have
enough time and freedom to repair themselves. It's easier for our system to
fight sickness when we're on holidays because it's not working so hard trying
to fend off all the other environmental baddies. It's a widely accepted truth
that chronic disorders, such as back pain, migraines and sore throats, also
disappear when we're on a break. "I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome and when
I'm at work I suffer from the worst cramps," says Emily, 29. "But
last year I took myself off to the Whitsundays for three weeks and it
miraculously vanished. I could eat whatever I wanted to and the pain was
gone!"
3. Breathe easier
Ever camped in the mountains and thought, "Gee, the air
feels clean here?" Well, you're right. City pollution means the air in
urban areas is more congested and dirty. To give your lungs and bloodstream a
chance to clear you need around 72 hours in pure, fresh air every few months.
And where will you find this? In holiday spots that are less populated, towns
that are high above sea level, the snow fields, and places that are near
rainforests. Your lungs are built to repair themselves so as long as you give
them time to dispel any unwanted carbon monoxide you should be breathing better
in no time.
4. Feel inspired
If you've lost your gusto for work then it's time for an
inspiration top up. Visiting places that move you and doing things that you're
passionate about are an instant fast-track to idea heaven. Stagnant
surroundings make for a bored and dull you, so get your juices flowing by
pumping some good endorphins into your body. And how do you do that? Sunlight,
laughter, healthy food, exercise, sex and fresh air are all guaranteed to have
you bouncing off the walls with enthusiasm.
5. Reconnect with your partner
Tiredness and stress are instant sexual zappers. Holiday sex
on the other hand, is always hot. So the best way to reclaim that intimacy and
passion is to move out of your boring, old bedroom and get it on somewhere
foreign and fabulous like a secluded mountain cabin or a seaside bed and
breakfast. Studies have also shown that female and male fertility rates are
higher outside of polluted and congested cities. Bonus!
6. Heighten your senses
Takeaway food, cigarette smoke, pollution and sickness all
affect our sense of taste and smell. "I love nothing more than tucking
into a beautiful steak over a nice glass of red wine, followed by a rich
chocolate pudding," says Belinda, 28. "But I've found that lately I'm
just not enjoying my food as much as I used to. I'm either too busy worrying about
my never ending to-do list, or I'm fighting off a cold so I can't taste
anything anyway." So if you truly want to enjoy a nice, wholesome meal you
need to do it on holidays.
7. Sleep better
Lower stress levels and the relative peace and quiet that comes
with any good holiday are key in helping you catch up on lost sleep. There is a
reason why traffic controllers are required to take break every 15 minutes, you
know! Cities are noisy and traffic, boisterous colleagues, nasty neighbors and
exuberant air-conditioning can all raise your cholesterol, blood pressure and
the likelihood of headaches. So find somewhere peaceful to chill out and turn
the volume down in your head.
8. Do your kids a favor
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics an increasing
number of children are growing up in a family where both parents work full time
with more than a quarter of Australians working more than 49 hours a week. Not
only does this means that parents are missing out on quality time with their
family, but children are being forced to hang out with their mum and dad when
they're stressed, tired, moody and touchy. So why not do everyone a favour and
take some time off together?
9. Be more productive
Ever ventured into the countryside and thought, "Wow
the hills are so green and the sky is so blue?" There's a good reason for
that you know. We're so used to the drab greys and blacks of the city that our
eyes forget how much we love color. The same goes for our brain cells too.
Seeing and doing the same thing every day reduces our mind's efficiency so we
need new stimulants to ensure we're operating at our peak. This means taking a
holiday will help you perform better at work when you get back. Is there a
better excuse than that?
10. Become a nicer person
Naomi, 32, is the manager of her own fashion company and
says that when she comes back from holidays her staff always comment on how
much nicer she is. "It's a confidence boost for me because it reminds me
that I can be a pretty cool person when I want to be," she admits.
"Seeing how people respond to me when I'm calmer and more relaxed is an
incentive to try and act like that all the time. When you strip away the hustle
and bustle of the working week, you get to the core of who you really are. So I
have vowed to take more leave in the hope that my "nice" months start
to outnumber my bad ones."
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