The best therapy? Vacation!

So many of my colleagues at work bank their vacation days.  They use little of the time-off they earn in a given year, and save it. For what, I’m not sure. What they tell me is that there’s never a good time to break away from the work world ... and they’re right.

Life is busy.  

But that’s exactly why it’s so important to step off the treadmill once in a while. All of us need downtime to reenergize and relax. It provides a huge boost to our morale and our immune system. 

According to The New York Times, vacations are not simply a luxury. There is increasing evidence that they really are necessary for good health. 

“The trick, these days when going on vacation, is not only to physically remove yourself from your normal routine, but mentally as well,” the newspaper explains. “Checking your BlackBerry every few hours or rushing to the nearest Internet cafe doesn’t cut it.”

I can vouch for that. I just returned from two weeks in the Galapagos Islands with my 18- and 20-year-old sons. Our cellular service did not work in this magical outpost some 500 miles off the coast of Ecuador. No calls. No texting. No emails.

No distractions from the beautiful scenery, the incredible wildlife, interesting conversation with my fellow passengers, and of course, great one-on-one time with my sons. 

We shared incredible moments:

• snorkeling through a pod of dolphins as they sang their eerie high-pitched songs, 
• teasing curious sea lions who darted around us in the clear ocean waters,
• watching with awe as a whale shark approached our boat for a closer inspection,
• seeing a frigate bird hop off a cliff and take flight for the first time,
• bargaining for souvenirs at the local market,
• tasting a myriad of native foods.

My list could go on for pages and these memories will stay with my boys and I forever. 

As you might imagine, I have no deferred vacation time. Each year I take every day I’ve earned. I need that time to unwind so that when I get back to the office, I’m ready to deal with the fast pace and the daily stresses that are a normal part of my work world.

While I’m fortunate to be able to travel on my days off, a vacation doesn’t need to take you far from home.  Find a place where you can recharge and savor your time away from the daily grind.  

Allow yourself the luxury of a little vacation therapy. It's good for the mind, body and soul!