It’s Official: Vacations Help You Live Longer!

Everybody loves going on vacation, but not nearly enough of us take them as often as we should. And when we do finally book a trip, we tend to take our work with us. Instead of checking out sunset beaches and discovering the local nightlife, we worry about the work we’re leaving behind. Checking in with your boss or employees every five minutes does not make for a fun vacation—for you or your family.

Well, what if we told you that putting away your laptop, shutting down your cell phone, and forgetting your day to day routine for even a short while can actually help you live longer and be happier? It sounds like a win-win to us. So the next time you take a trip somewhere, remember that enjoying yourself can actually add years to your life.

Check out our Top 10 Reasons Vacations Help You Live Longer and Be Happier.

1. Vitamin D. It’s time to make friends with Vitamin D. This amazing vitamin is needed for the health of almost every cell in our body, yet most of us don’t get nearly enough. Just 20 minutes of sunlight a day is all you need to keep your body working right. Once the sun hits your skin, your body starts reaping the benefits. Improve your mental and physical health the natural way and extend your life expectancy. 
   
   
   
   
2. Make new friends. Making friends isn’t as hard as it sounds, especially when you’re on vacation. People love talking about the places they live in. Don’t be afraid to ask locals about their favorite hangouts. You’ll be surprised how many of them are willing to give you a guided tour. And the more friends you make, the happier you’ll feel. Spending time with others and sharing moments with them keeps us smiling even on dreary days.
   
   
   
   
3. Exercise. Sure, you can always rent a car, but people tend to walk a whole lot more on vacations than they do when they’re at home. That’s a good thing. Your body gonna love the extra exercise, and maybe you’ll even end up shedding a few pounds. You don’t have to take mile-long hikes to reap the rewards, either. Just walking from your hotel to the local downtown area is enough to boost energy and health levels.
   
   
   
   
4. Sleep better. How many nights have you spent tossing and turning? We’re guessing most of those are right at home in your own bed. When we go on vacation, something magical happens. Our stresses fade away, we get more exercise, and we sleep better. Exploring new lands and meeting new people is a great way to expel our energy during the day. Once our eyes close at night, sleep will come fast and hard. And the better we sleep, the healthier we’ll be.
   
   
   
   
5. Build confidence. Ever get lost trying to find your way around a foreign land? That’s okay! It’s part of the adventure. Guess what else? It can actually build confidence. It’s not the getting lost part that gives our egos a boost, it’s getting out of it. Finding our way around new places and getting ourselves out of unexpected jams can make us feel better about ourselves. And the better we feel about ourselves, the happier we’ll be.
   
   
   
   
6. Reduce stress. Relaxation reduces stress, that’s kind of a given and shouldn’t really come as a surprise. But how many of us actually find the time to relax at home? Going on vacation is like an instant dose of relaxation. Your everyday stresses melt away and you feel better physically and mentally. Studies have shown time and time again that those of us with the least amount of stress in our lives tend to live the longest. So take a trip and relax today.
   
   
   
   
7. Boost energy. There are tons of ways to boost your energy levels, and they don’t all have to involve coffee. Just taking a sunrise stroll along sandy beaches is enough to improve our mood and give us an energy boost for the rest of the day. Or forget the sandy stroll and sleep in. You’re on vacation, after all. Listen to your body and let it guide you on the right time to wake up. Do that, and you’ll feel good the rest of the day.
   
   
   
   
8. Appreciate home. When you’re away from home, all the little things about it that bug you are usually forgotten. That loose banister or broken tile doesn't seem like such a big deal when you’re soaking up rays lying on the beach. In fact, after a while, you’ll start to miss them. They become less annoying and more quirky. By the time your vacation’s over, you’ll be happy to return to the home you left behind, broken tiles and all.
   
   
   
   
9. Long-term effects. Good news for us travelers. The increased health and happiness you find on vacation stay with you even after your trip is over. Just because you’re back to the daily grind doesn’t mean you’re the same person you were when you left. That joyful mood and newfound energy will stick with you until you can get away again. So start planning that next trip now!
   
   
   
   
10. Forget social media. It’s hard to quiet your mind when you’re glued to your phone. Or a laptop. Or a tablet. Or whatever. There’s nothing wrong with making use of the internet, but more and more of us have turned into social media junkies. Too much social media has been proven to make us anxious and negatively affect our sleep. So turn off the internet and take a trip instead. Maybe even visit someplace that doesn’t have Wi-Fi.
    
    
    
    

So whether it’s that two-week dream vacation or just a weekend getaway, stop thinking about that trip and actually take it. Every time you go away somewhere new, you’re only helping your mind and body to feel, act, and be healthier. Your mood will improve and your happiness levels will fly off the charts.

And when you get back, drop us a line over at Newverest and let us know where you went. We love hearing about new adventures, especially ones that put smiles on your faces. Pick up one of our Newverest maps and use it to track your travels. Mark the places that made you the happiest, and plan a return trip. The sooner you start traveling, the better your life will get. Here’s to your next adventure, we hope it’s a doozy!