The 5 effects of holidays on your health and emotional rest

The vacation period is much more than a few days in which we can allow ourselves to disconnect from work. It is also a phenomenon that brings several benefits to our emotional health.

In this article we will see what are the effects of holidays on our psychological well-being, and the way in which it gives us advantages for managing our emotions even without leaving home.

• Related article: "Mental health: definition and characteristics according to psychology"

The psychological benefits of vacations

These are the main aspects by which having a vacation allows you to enjoy days of emotional rest and can make a difference in your mood.

1. The chance to get out of the routine

Something as simple as leaving the weekly work dynamics pIt makes it easier to get rid of a good part of those thoughts that tend to run through our heads, generating stress and worries..

As we spend more time without being surrounded by that which constantly reminds us that we have many things to do, it is easier to remain in a calm state.

2. The possibility of disconnecting from social networks

Several studies indicate that many people tend to feel negative affectivity with the sustained use of social networks such as Facebook or Instagram, digital platforms that lend themselves to being visited especially in "dead times" between one responsibility and the next.

On vacation, it is much easier to focus our attention on much more challenging tasks without interruption, replacing those moments of going from one photograph to the next without knowing very well what we get from one experience like that.

3. An opportunity to connect with your family

The holiday period is a very good time to strengthen family relationships that have been affected by the lack of time together throughout any given weekday.

4. Helps fight stress

Statistically, the vacation period goes hand in hand with a reduction in the level of stress perceived by oneself, as well as a decrease in cortisol in the blood, which is the hormone associated with stress. Gaining control over our time is a great help when it comes to better managing our emotions.

5. It allows to improve physical and, by extension, emotional health

Emotional well-being is always linked to physical well-being. So having more time to move around and even to cook healthy dishes (rather than having to settle for dishes sold by nearby stores and restaurants) is a great advantage.

In fact, it is proven that in Western societies in general, the vacation season is associated with a decrease in the diameter of the abdomen and the Body Mass Index. And as a consequence of being better physically, we are more likely to be better emotionally.

Some final tips

To get the most out of your vacation from a psychological and emotional point of view, follow these tips.

1. Consider traveling alone

Many people feel pressured at the idea of ​​having to conform their vacation expectations to the plans of others. Take, for example, a group of young people who plan to rent a beachfront vacation apartment to party together almost every night. Given this, peer pressure can lead several people to accept that this will be the way they spend several of their vacation days.

However, the key is not to settle only for the fear of experiencing rejection: that parenthesis of free time is a precious asset that we should be able to dedicate to whatever we want. For this reason, the idea of ​​traveling unaccompanied by choosing the destination ourselves is a perfectly valid plan and should not cause problems in relation to others; You just have to communicate honestly that it is not about being away from those people in your closest circle, but about having freedom when deciding what to do.

2. Stay away from tricky comparisons

Social media is full of idealized vacations; If we take them seriously as a true reflection of the way people enjoy their days off, it is very easy to feel bad.

Therefore, it is best to avoid evaluating everything from the eyes of someone who is only dedicated to comparing what that happens to you during vacation days, on the one hand, and the stereotype of paradise vacations, on the one hand other.

3. If you stay home, get moderate exercise

Not leaving our city is also a perfectly valid option. Of course, since perhaps we will not have reasons to be away from home constantly, as would happen in the case of traveling. It is important not to neglect exercise.

There are several activities that will allow you to exercise your muscles and keep your joints without having to go very far, and several of them can be done in one room well ventilated.

4. In case of living a bad time, go to professionals

Many people arrive on the first day of vacation having suffered significant stress for months due to the pressure of work. In cases like this, surely the simple fact of having free time will improve things, but to further reinforce the process of emotional improvement, you can take advantage of going to the psychologist.

Through the work done in the consultation, it is possible to learn to detect the problems that were exerting psychological wear, and to better manage emotions, also evaluating alternatives to the job that one has.

Are you looking for psychological support?

If you are interested in starting a psychotherapy process, get in touch with our team of professionals.

On Psychological Awakenings We have a history of many years serving people of all ages, and currently we offer the possibility of hold sessions both in our centers in Madrid, Getafe, Móstoles and Leganés, as well as through online therapy by video call. On this page you will find our contact information.

Bibliographic references:

• Hyde, A.L.; Conroy, D.E.; Pincus, A.L. & Ram, N. (2011). Unpacking the Feel Good Effect of Free-Time Physical Activity: Between- and Within-Person Associations with Pleasant-Activated Feeling States. The Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 33 (6): pp. 884 - 902.
• Sarah D. Pressman, et. to the. (2009). Association of Enjoyable Leisure Activities With Psychological and Physical Well-Being. Psychosomatic Medicine, 71 (7): pp. 725 - 732.
• Tarumi, K.; Hagihara, A. & Morimoto, M. (1998). An investigation into the effects of vacations on the health status in male white-collar workers. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine. 3(1): 23 - 30.