It turns out that vacations ARE really good for you. They do something to our brain. It’s like “shaking up the snowglobe” so to speak. Vacations get us out of our ruts of daily life and help our brain think in new and exciting ways.
I recently took a week to visit my sister in Florida with my son. I felt like I hadn’t taken a real vacation in a very long time. Most of my trips the last few years have been to see my family back east and I’ve “helped” them start to purge for their next chapter.
My week away did my brain wonders in more ways than one. I came back completely refreshed and looked around and saw things with a fresh set of eyes. The same old living room looked newer and I saw things that I could purge that I hadn’t noticed before.
I also came back feeling totally refreshed and ready to get back to work. Excited to start a new project.
Taking a vacation isn’t just a break from work—it’s a powerful way to reset your mind and body. Science shows that stepping away from daily stress can lower your cortisol levels, boost your mood, and help you sleep better. In fact, research found that men who skip vacations for years are 30% more likely to have a heart attack. That’s a huge risk for something as simple—and enjoyable—as taking time off. Vacations also spark creativity, improve focus, and make you more productive when you return. And get this: just looking forward to a trip can make you happier for weeks. So if you’ve been putting off that getaway, think of it as a necessary act of self-care—not a guilty pleasure.
I’ve decided that even when I can’t take off for a week I can do day trips close to home that will take me out of my routine and shake my snowglobe up. Going on small adventures close to home is good, too. There are so many great things to see and do in our own backyards.
What’s your next vacation you have planned?