Vacation’s health perks: How time off impacts your brain

We all know that taking a break from the daily grind and going on a holiday or meditating can feel great. But did you know these activities can actually bring about beneficial changes on a biological level? A study found that both taking a vacation and meditating had an impact on our molecular networks. It followed healthy women and saw significant changes in the molecular patterns of those who vacationed, meditated, and experienced meditators. While it’s not surprising that these activities reduce stress, this is the first time researchers have seen such large gene changes in a short period. What happens in our bodies when we go on vacation or meditate? Keep reading to discover the many vacation health benefits.

Vacation Health Benefits

Most of us don’t take enough time off, and not doing so means missing out on the benefits. Just planning a vacation can already boost happiness levels, and being in a new environment, especially abroad, can enhance our creativity. Studies have also shown that taking vacations can be good for our physical health. Women who took vacations less frequently were more likely to have heart attacks, while men who vacationed regularly had a lower risk of death. Even if you can’t jet off to an exotic locale, taking time off and unplugging can have a positive impact. Try new things, whether in a familiar or unfamiliar place, to keep your brain active.

How Meditating Changes Your Body

Meditation has been praised for its benefits for a long time, and now science backs it up. A study found that cancer survivors who meditated had longer telomere lengths, which are associated with aging and disease. Meditation also helps reduce anxiety by weakening the connection between the brain’s sensation and fear areas and the Me Center, and strengthening the link to the Assessment Center. This allows us to assess situations more rationally. Regular meditation can even make us more compassionate. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to start meditating. There are free or inexpensive apps available. Even just taking a few deep breaths can be beneficial. It’s great that science is understanding how our minds affect our bodies and health, but we all know the benefits of vacation and meditation firsthand.