When the word “vacation” is mentioned, one of the ideas people have is taking time to shut off from work and other important engagements to relax.

While this is largely true, there are other benefits of vacation especially when it comes to how it improves your mental health. Have you considered how a vacation helps your mental health? Here are some science-rooted ways to know.  

• It deals with stress

Since you are escaping the demands of work, career, family to take care of yourself, your stress levels will reduce within that time frame.

The daily demands of life can put so much stress on us that we forget to remember that our health is a priority. When you take a break from the hustle and bustle of life, you are keeping stress at bay.

• It helps with the rediscovery

When you go on a vacation, it becomes easier to reinvent yourself because you are in a settled state. Taking a vacation can allow your mind and rain to explore in a way that you’ve not experienced before.

Some of the world’s greatest inventions came when the inventors were alone, shut off from the rest of the world. If you are trying to put your life in perspective so that it doesn’t affect your mental health, a vacation is one of the things to consider.

• It makes you happier

If you are feeling trapped, it might be difficult to achieve happiness. You might feel the need to take a break and figure out how to become happier.

Going on vacation keeps you in a relaxed state that also boosts your brain’s reward system, which makes you happier in return. It even starts from looking forward to the trip, planning it, and executing it.

One of the primary ways to be mentally resilient is to keep your mental health in check. You can achieve this by going on a vacation to give your life a reset. It would make it easier to handle issues in a more strategic and clear-headed way.

Counseling can relieve symptoms of a wide range of mental health conditions. During Counselling, people are taught how to cope with symptoms that don’t improve immediately. Research shows the benefits of Counselling last longer than medication alone. 

Although Counselling teaches people skills to deal with mental health symptoms on their own, medication may reduce some symptoms of certain mental health conditions.

As a result, people can continue to learn these skills after Counselling ends, reducing the possibility of having to seek additional treatment.

A counselor may be able to assist you in reducing the effects of any of the following emotions or feelings. In particular, you should consider getting help if you feel controlled by symptoms or if they pose a risk to you or others.

• Isolation: The ability to spend time alone is beneficial to many people. Introverted people may need even more time alone than others. However, if you feel distressed around other people or are afraid of being around them, counseling can help you understand and cope with these feelings.
• Mind-numbing thoughts: Even though it’s normal to worry about things from time to time, therapy can help you manage worry when it’s taking over your life or causing you physical symptoms.
• Lack of hope. When you lose hope or are feeling as if there is no hope, you may be suffering from depression or another mental disorder. Sometimes it is common to feel hopeless after a difficult period, especially during times of financial hardship. However, if it persists, it can lead to suicidal thoughts.
• Resentment: A certain amount of anger is normal for everyone. An occasional fit of rage is unlikely to harm us. You should see a counselor if you experience these feelings frequently, if they seem out of character or if they lead to acting out. violent or potentially harmful actions.  

The essence of a vacation from time to time cannot be over-emphasized as people work tirelessly and need to rest.

Studies have shown that taking time out to rest, treat yourself to some self-care even while on a vacation does so much good to your mental health. Below are some benefits of a vacation on your mental health;

1. REDUCE DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY: Society has created a lot of pressure around, even the workplace has not made it so easy. This could lead to depression or anxiety especially when you are not meeting your target. Going on a vacation helps you to take your mind of all of this for a few days or weeks, depending on how long the vacation is.
2. REDUCES STRESS: One factor that could lead to depression is accumulated stress that has not to be eased up. And a way to relieve yourself of all the stress of work, school, home is going on a vacation. Just taking some time out to rest, chill, and cool off.
3. IMPROVES PRODUCTIVITY: When you have accumulated stress in your body, productivity drops and you cannot even achieve the target sets. Taking a break and going on a vacation solves the problem of productivity as your head is now free and your body relaxed.
4. MOD IMPROVEMENT: A lot of people go around in their workplace or school or even in their homes transferring aggression on innocent people because of pent-up stress. Gifting yourself with a vacation would improve your mood and bring you back to your bubbly, cheerful self.
5. INCREASES CREATIVITY: Getting out and exploring places out of your comfort zone can boost your creativity level. Exposure to new things, meeting new people, trying out new things have been linked to better problem-solving skills. And all this would not happen in your safe space, so go out, take a vacation, explore the world, and increase in creativity.

Stress is a part of everyday life. It is common for tension to arise from schoolwork, responsibilities at home, hectic schedules, other people’s expectations, disappointments, deadlines, and social problems.

In such a case, everyday stresses can quickly pile up. You can avoid becoming overburdened by stress by incorporating these five simple actions into your routine. For the benefits to last, you have to make sure you continue implementing these routinely:

• Balance your responsibilities 

Ensure that you balance your duties with your interests. The balance is everything: all work and no play is unhealthy. It can become stressful if you have too many activities and not enough time for leisure.

• Get enough sleep. 

You may think that this is an obvious decision. Everyone loves to sleep, right? Getting enough sleep still needs to be a priority, since it’s not hard to let deadlines, talking to friends, or binge-watching prevent us from slumbering.

• Eat healthily.

Stress, mood, and energy are affected by what you eat. It’s the balance thing again – eating healthy does not mean avoiding all treats.

Even if you ate a salad or turkey on whole-grain at lunch, you can treat yourself to ice cream now and then. In contrast, if you rely solely on sweets and ice cream for fuel, you will likely crash or feel cranky.

• Spend time exercising each day:

Taking deep breaths while running or feeling the rush of a downhill bike ride is a great way to escape anxiety. The chemicals released in our brains by exercise do more than just take our minds off stress, they are also good for us.

• Manage your responsibilities

Organize tasks, chores, practice, and other commitments using a calendar or planning app. You can’t manage stress unless you keep your plan.

Regular study, staying on top of your schedule, and overcoming procrastination are integral parts of stress management. Take a few minutes every day to reflect on how things are going. Are there any areas that you should improve?

Lifestyle changes may seem insignificant, but they can have a powerful impact. Consider the potential for exercise to increase your longevity:

 In a person over the age of 30, their heart and lungs carry around 2 percent less oxygen. The same person, however, can burn 3,000 calories a week through aerobic exercise (at least until the age of 80 or 90) and expect to lose a maximum of half a percent of his heart-and-lung capacity each year.

Every cell in the body demands oxygen to function, therefore, this single lifestyle change could affect someone’s life expectancy by 50 years.

The best ways to live a long and healthy life are commonly known and some of them are also enjoyable. Despite their simplicity, some suggestions can have an enormous impact on a person’s life. Here are five tips to living a long life:

• Stay away from smoking

The average smoker dies about ten years sooner than they would if they never smoked, having had their bodies exposed to hundreds of toxic chemicals for their entire adult lives. Quitting smoking can allow you to recover most of those years.

• Make sure you get enough sleep.

Sleep helps you stay healthy and reduce stress. It also keeps your weight in check and gives you energy. To avoid medical sleep disorders, make sure you get adequate sleep each night. A good night’s sleep strengthens your immune system, allows your body to repair and renew its tissues.

• Exercise regularly

A person who exercises regularly lives about five to seven years longer than a person who does not exercise. Walks, for example, strengthen your bones. The heart is strengthened by aerobic exercise. Whenever possible, work out at least 30 minutes per day.

• Eat well

Having a healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, and seafood can extend your life. A diet that includes these foods can help prevent disease and boost health by providing vitamins, minerals, and heart-healthy fats.

• Stay stress-free

Numerous health conditions are triggered by chronic stress. Stress likely triggers an inflammatory response within the immune system, which exerts its adverse effects. Stress can be reduced by activities like yoga, massage, meditation, and gentle exercise, for example.

Jesus Christ is known as the great healer. Many people who are not born in a Christian family also come to know Jesus during a time of sickness when someone might have talked about God’s healing messages in the Bible.

Here are some verses from the New Testament that explain the Christian perspective on health, wellness and healing.

Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. Matthew 9:12

When Jesus was living on the earth, He spent time with poor, needy and even social outcasts. It is recorded in the Bible that Jesus spoke the words in Matthew when some rich people expressed why He was in the company of people considered socially lower than others in those days.

This verse is an encouragement for us today that irrespective of our health or wealth situation, we can boldly seek God’s help for healing in all areas of our life – physical, mental and spiritual.

Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. Matthew 9:22.

This is another popular verse in the Bible. It gives people confidence that God not only has the power to heal but He is compassionate and ready to heal.

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 John 1:2.

This verse confirms what we now know scientifically. It demonstrates that there is a direct connection between the wellness of the physical body and the health of our inner being (mind and soul). Essentially the verse seems to show us that the path to good physical health is linked to paying attention to mental and spiritual health.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

We are reminded in the scriptures about health and wellness that anxiety cannot change any situation from bad to good. On the other hand, it can be harmful to our overall well being. The solution is to place our worry and nagging anxiety in God’s hands through prayers from a thankful heart. 

In the Bible, we find many references that show God’s interest in our overall wellbeing. Reading and meditating the scriptures about health and wellness is a great reminder that God cares for us.   

Wellness is a holistic integration of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Many quotes from the Bible refer to living a healthy and useful life with God’s help.

Here are some verses from the Old Testament that shed light on God’s perspective on health and wellness:

A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22.

Mental wellbeing influences the health of the whole body. There is also scientific proof that worry and anxiety are not good for health. This modern thinking only confirms what God’s people have known for centuries.  

Say to him: ‘Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours! 1 Samuel 25:6.

In Biblical times, wishing long life and good health is a common way of greeting friends and family. Even now in some cultures enquiring about health is the common first line of conversation. It is possible that the western way of toasting to one another’s health is passed on from Biblical times.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Proverbs 3:7-8.

This is also a practical verse from the Bible. It also emphasized how health and wellbeing are related to lifestyle. The verse is also fully in line with modern healthcare professionals. It confirms that a positive attitude, a key for a healthy life is the best thing we can do for our health, relationships, and careers.

But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the Lord. Jeremiah 30:17.

It is an encouraging scripture that God is aware of our need and is ready to show His power.

At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. Daniel 1:15.

A great verse that demonstrates the importance of the right food and dietary practice. In fact, this scripture is now the basis of a popular diet called Daniel Diet.

Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you. Exodus 23:25

This verse is an example of scriptures where obedience to God’s commands goes hand in hand with His promise of blessings and our health and wellbeing.

EMOTIONAL HEALTH

Emotional health is an integral aspect of our overall health. People who are certified to be emotionally healthy, are those who can majorly control their thoughts, behaviours and feelings. These set of people are able to withstand the challenges of life. They can retain problems in perspective, and quickly get back from setbacks. They always have a good feeling about themselves and their relationships are always great.

When you are emotionally healthy, it does not really mean that you are always happy. What it implies is, you are always conscious of your emotions, and you can take them on, either positive or negative. People who are emotionally healthy, still feel certain emotions such as: anger, sadness and stress. However, the only advantage they have is, they can handle their negative feelings.

They are fully aware when a problem is bigger than them, and they know when it is time to seek help from someone who is experienced or vast in whatever area they find themselves. In most cases, a counsellor or a doctor.

An emotionally healthy person has the capacity to work productively, alongside coping with the stress which comes with life. It also aids you in working with other people and contributing to society.

Emotional health also has an impact on your physical health, as it helps to reduce blood pressure, reduces the chance of coming down with heart disease, and it leads to a healthy gain in weight.

The steps mentioned below are useful in improving your emotional health:

• Be conscious of your emotions and reactions: You need to know what makes you angry, sad or frustrated, and you need to make conscious efforts to address them.

• Show your feelings in suitable ways: Ensure that people who are close to you know when something is bothering you. When you keep feelings inside, it increases your stress levels. It could also cause problems at school, work or in your relationship.

• Think well before acting: Emotions are very powerful. Hence, always ensure that you calm down and think it through, before you do something which you might regret.

• Stress management: Ensure that you learn different relaxation methods in order to cope well with stress. You could try out exercising, meditation and taking deep-breaths.

• Staying positive: Always focus on the good aspect of your life. Learn to forgive yourself for making certain mistakes, and also forgive others.

There are many different lenses with which to view personal health. One that puts the topic of health into a specific perspective is health as it relates to particular careers. Links have been discovered between professions and health conditions. For example, desk work and extended hours at a computer can lead to musculoskeletal problems and arthritic conditions. Professional athletes are much more prone to impact and overuse injuries than professionals in other career fields. Doctors, lawyers and CEOs are at a higher risk of becoming addicts and substance abusers. Below is a list of online resources you can use to learn more about the health effects that different career fields have on their working professionals.

Healthcare and health problems are universal to every demographic, but when we analyze different groups of people, we begin to see how unique health can be to particular demographics. A demographic may be organized by region, gender, ethnicity, religion, age, income bracket, social status, economical standing, familial role or a number of other qualifying factors. Most demographics have been found to have unique health signatures, such as osteoporosis in women,  dimensia in the elderly and superior health in higher income brackets. To learn more on how your demographics after your health, see the online resources listed below.