Seven Benefit of Taking a Vacation

Seven Benefits of Taking a Vacation

By Kris Powers | May 19th 2015 originally published at

https://ed4online.com/blog/seven-benefits-taking-vacation

Are you planning on taking vacation time this summer? 

If not, you will be among the 75% of Americans who fail to 

take all the paid vacation they are due each year. In a poll 

of 2,300 workers who get paid vacation, the career website 

Glassdoor found that only 25% of workers said they use 

all their paid days each year and 61% said that they continue

to work even while they’re on vacation.

"Rest, relaxation, and stress reduction are very important for people's well-being and health. 

This can be accomplished through daily activities, such as exercise and meditation, but 

vacation is an important part of this as well," said primary care physician Natasha Withers 

from One Medical Group in New York.

Here are seven ways vacation can be beneficial for you:

Better physical health - The stress of working can take a serious toll on your heart.  The 

American Psychological Association has documented several potentially stress-induced 

health threats, including increased cardiovascular risks.

Improved mental health - U.S. News and World Report reported that experts feel that one 

of the main benefits of vacation time is that it can improve your mental health. Feelings of 

calm arise and relieve the stress, allowing the body and mind to heal.

More productivity - Upon returning from vacation, employees are often refreshed and better 

able to catch up on work they may have missed, according to The New York Times.

Prevent/Cure burn out - According to PBS, employees nearing burnout have depleted their 

cognitive, physical and emotional resources. Vacations can help prevent or even cure 

burnout, which is the last state of chronic stress.

Increased mental power - Everyone needs time to rest their minds. Research by the 

University of California 

Irvine’s Gregory Hickok found that our brains don’t have a reserve pool to gather energy and 

power from. Therefore, it's important to give your mind a break!

Gain newer perspectives - CNN reported that when you take a break and step away from 

the problems and stresses you’re facing, you are bound to gain a new perspective. Perhaps 

you will come back from vacation with answers to issues that have been plaguing you.

Build relationships - Vacations promote bonding among family and friends; we can often 

look back at vacations with great fondness and warmth because of shared moments with 

loved ones. Even memories of the mishaps can bring laughter in future years!

It’s important that we slow down our pace in order to lead healthier lifestyles, including rest 

and relaxation for stress reduction as well as making time for the enjoyment of family and 

friends.

Source: http://national.deseretnews.com/article/2169/7-benefits-of-taking-vacation-time.

html#RCbLCsvrlcAh9GRf.99

- See more at:https://ed4online.com/blog/seven-benefits-takingvacation#sthash.g02kOUdX.dpuf

10 Things I Want My Daughter to Know About Working Out

So, my daughter, just home from vacation, comes out of her room and states loudly “I’m fat” not with tears, but with sort of a grin. She knows she’s beautiful and has an inner confidence, that I certainly did not have as a 13-year-old, but this statement concerns me and I laid awake that night wondering how to address it.

 

I am a fit mom who instilled health and wellness in my daily mothering. Yet the truth is this: My daughter looks nothing like me; her body is long and curvy, completely unlike my shorter, more muscular physique. Nor does she share “the eye of the tiger” that I was born with. I love to exercise and have used it as a stress release since I was a young girl, walking on my hands and cartwheeling through my younger days. I loved to move and still do. She wants no part of that!

 

So even though she doesn’t share my “tiger spirit,” there are things I still want her to know about why working out matters and why being fit and connected to your body is key to having an amazing life, not just to look good, but to feel strong and confident in who you are and how you show up in the world.

 

1. Being strong is the bomb. What I learned is when I connect to my strength, my fear diminishes and my confidence rises. You will feel more joy and less inclined to take crap from people that want to push you around. 

 

2. Self-efficacy is key. Your need for approval from peers becomes less important. You will be more inclined to celebrate your uniqueness, your beauty, brilliance and strength. This is what you want to reflect, not your fear and phobias. You will attract people who like you for who you are, not for what you have.

 

3. Exercise boosts confidence. Even when we don’t feel like it, the benefits of exercise are huge! Being fit makes me smile more, I feel more alive, and want to connect more with others. The same will be true with you. Trust me! Being fit and vital is contagious.

 

4. Nature rules! Ever feel totally bummed out and trapped in the house? Cranky from too much screen time. Nature rules! The crunch of the leaves, the smell of grass, and the crisp, cool air all brings us to deeper connection to who we are. Moving our bodies outside connects to our source, our inner knowing of what is right, true and unique for each of us.

 

5. You really discover who you are by meeting and pushing through challenges. “I can’t do it.” Lifting weights brings me to places that are ugly and scary. Moving through resistance teaches me that I am more than my thoughts and my fears. I can do more than I thought. Often, things that I thought weren’t even possible.  Fitness pushes you to places where faith takes over and fear fades. This is what I call a peak experience. This is REAL.

 

6. Your choices become clearer. Exercise clears your head and silences unnecessary noise. The doubters and haters in your life shrink to zero. You’ve got no time for that! Making a decision about something? Oftentimes we can work out a strategy through the systematic approach of working out. Clarity is powerful.

 

7. Just sayin’ no to what doesn’t feel right. Being strong allows you to have the strength and confidence to say “no.” This is a powerful word. Embrace it. Get comfortable using it against unwanted sexual advances, peer pressure or anything else that puts you out of integrity for who you are. You rock. “No” is good. It lets people know you are not to be messed with.

 

8. People who care about their bodies and being fit are way cooler. Fit people are, in general, more positive. And who doesn’t want to be around positive people? If you are negative, you attract negativity. It’s hard to be crabby when you are experiencing a boost of endorphins post workout. And the positive effect lasts hours. Share in the good vibes!

 

9. You dream bigger. Pushing through limitations helps you see yourself as the amazing person you came here to be. We are all here to be unique and serve the world in our own way. Dreaming bigger means you can help more people. Don’t waste time trying to be smaller than who you know you are!

 

10. You feel beautiful. Strong is beautiful. Confidence is beautiful. Smart is beautiful. Courageous is beautiful. “Beauty is only skin deep” is actually a lie. Beauty is not just your hair, your hips, your eyes. Beauty is also your inner qualities and how you make others feel. By celebrating yourself, you bring more beauty to the world.

 

This is what I want my daughter to know:  that by caring for her body, she is showing the world that she matters, that she has a voice, and with her strength and beauty from within, she has the power to change the world.

 

And so do you!

About the author: 

Kate McKay is a speaker, coach, fitness guru, entrepreneur and author whose passion is to spread her message of living a life of abundance. She founded Gold Siena/Gold Party New England and Kate McKay, headquartered in Newburyport, Mass. Kate has a single goal in life: to inspire others to live the most abundant life possible by helping them tap into their inner strengths. Ms. McKay offers her wisdom through her "Living Sexy" series of books as well as personal speaking engagements.

5 Proven Strategies to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

Do you know what 40% of Americans DREAD about the holidays?

Gift shopping? Nope.

Traveling? Nope.

Seeing certain relatives? Well, maybe, but that’s not it either.

What 40% of Americans dread most about the holidays: WEIGHT GAIN.

Why? Because the weight gained during the holidays often becomes the unwanted, un-returnable gift that unfortunately kept on giving! Not losing the weight gained each holiday season and post-holiday period could result in steady weight gain year after year.

And I know that feeling of dread! A few years ago I gained 20 pounds because binged and ate to my heart’s content. I filled myself with too much eggnog, pies, cakes, nuts, and other calorie rich holiday foods.

Since then, I’ve learned to be a more mindful holiday eater.

Here are 5 simple, but proven, tips to help you avoid holiday weight gain:

Tip 1: Be Conscious of Calories. Compared to other times of the year, the amount of calories consumed during the winter holidays increases dramatically. Make no mistake about it, calories can add up unsuspectingly fast. Be mindful of what you drink too. There are lots of calories in eggnog and alcoholic drinks. Think about whether you would prefer to eat or drink your calories.

Tip 2: Plan and Scan at Holiday Parties. Be picky, picky, picky. Scan the buffet and fill your plate with foods that are simply prepared. If possible, sit down and take the time to taste and savor every bite. Resist the urge to go back for more by waiting at least 20 minutes for your brain to register that you are comfortably full. If you are still hungry, eat more vegetables and drink water.
If you must have dessert, practice the three-bite rule to keep your sweet tooth in check. Take a first taste, a satisfying middle one, and then a lingering third bite.

Tip 3: Manage Stress. You may find aspects of the holiday season hectic and stressful for any number of reasons. If someone is stressing you out, remove yourself from that individual and take deep breaths. Also, this may sound simple, but be sure to get 8 hours of sleep each night.

Tip 4: Keep Your Body Moving. Do not abandon your regular exercise routine during the holidays. Concentrate on consistently doing simple workouts. So what if you can’t get to your favorite yoga class or find time for the treadmill? Even just 15 minutes can help you maintain your fitness level and/or fight the extra indulgent treats you enjoyed. For example, jumping rope for 15 minutes torches about 190 calories and a quick yoga sequence at home can help you stay flexible.

Tip 5: Eat More Veggies & Fruits Everyday. Play with your food and look for ways to incorporate more veggies into your breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals! Eating low-energy dense foods such as veggies and fruit during the holidays (and beyond) will help create a sense of fullness, so you consume less calorie rich foods.

Research shows the feeling of fullness people experience after eating is more a function of the amount or volume of food consumed rather than the number of calories or grams of fat, carbohydrate or protein consumed. So you could eat a volume of calorie rich foods that don’t make you feel full, whereas eating a large volume of nutrient rich whole foods would make you feel satisfied. That is why you should use veggies and fruit to create a feeling of fullness or satiety at holiday parties.
This season you will ward off unwanted, unhealthy, un-returnable weight gain using these proven strategies. And, if you do splurge, don’t beat yourself up…just get right back to normal eating and exercising, and do a better job at the next party. Keep these tips in mind to make it through the holidays with ease.

About the Author:
Despite excelling professionally, Tosh struggled with being overweight and  was nearly 300 pounds. She is now know as The Healthinista, not because she's a size 4, but because she has lost 70 pounds and continues to strive forward. In addition to speaking engagements, Tosh facilitates corporate wellness workshops, business retreats, and individual coaching. Learn more about +Tosh Patterson at www.toshpatterson.com. Tosh will be joining us as a presenter for the 2014 Whole Woman Expo, April 13, 2014.