According to the World Health Organization, long working hours are taking the lives of hundreds of thousands of people a year. And the effects of Covid on work-life balance may have worsened this trend.<\/p>\n
The report showed that a 55 hour work week can increase the chances of stroke and the risk of death from heart disease when compared to a standard 35 – 40 hour work week.<\/p>\n
And if you need even more reasons to take some time off for a holiday, here are four scientifically proven health benefits to jetting off.<\/p>\n
#1: Taking shorter holidays more often could reduce your chances of heart disease<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe idea of taking two or three weeks off work might spark more dread than comfort. Put off by the thought of returning to a mountain of emails, it might be tempting to think, \u2018now\u2019s just not a good time.\u2019<\/p>\n
According to psychology studies, time off doesn\u2019t need to be lengthy to make a difference. Taking shorter holidays more often could improve your health compared to one bumper holiday.<\/p>\n
So, if you\u2019re choosing between that three-week road trip in the US versus four week-long holidays in Europe, it might be better for your health to take shorter trips more often.<\/p>\n
#2: Holidays give you a chance to unplug <\/strong><\/h3>\nPhones and laptops keep us wired to work at all hours of the day. And if we let it, keeps us tethered to the stresses associated with it.<\/p>\n
These devices make it difficult for us in the modern world to detach. Some studies suggest that those who worry about work after hours have lower recovery rates than those who don\u2019t.<\/p>\n
The key takeaway? Don\u2019t check your emails on holiday. And leave your work laptop at home.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n#3: Holidays give you time to catch up on sleep<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe biggest difference between working and holiday is the amount of sleep you have. Lie ins become the norm. Naps in the deck chair come as standard. And if you\u2019re visiting Spain, perhaps you\u2019ll even squeeze in a siesta.<\/p>\n
A study by NASA\u2019s Ames Research Centre looked at the effects of strategic napping on crews flying across the Pacific. Those who\u2019d napped stayed wide awake, while those who hadn\u2019t were fighting the urge to fall asleep an average of 22 times.<\/p>\n
So if you find yourself attempting to \u2018power through\u2019 a particularly difficult period at work, take some time off!<\/p>\n
Tip #4: Holidays abroad boost creative thinking <\/strong><\/h3>\nFor those who do creative work for a living, creativity is a currency. That\u2019s why those working at the top of their industries see time off as an essential feature of their working lives.<\/p>\n
Designer Stegan Sagmeister shuts shop religiously every seven years and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates takes two week-long \u2018reading weeks\u2019 every year.<\/p>\n
While many of us aren\u2019t quite lucky enough to take six months off each year, simply choosing Marrakech over Milan might be just the thing to knock you out of a creative rut.<\/p>\n
And if you need some help deciding where to go, your choices are endless with Thomas Cook. Just head over to www.thomascook.com<\/a><\/strong><\/em> and book that much-need holiday with low deposits starting from as little as \u00a339pp.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Phones and laptops keep us wired to work at all hours of the day. And if we let it, keeps us tethered to the stresses associated with it.<\/p>\n
These devices make it difficult for us in the modern world to detach. Some studies suggest that those who worry about work after hours have lower recovery rates than those who don\u2019t.<\/p>\n
The key takeaway? Don\u2019t check your emails on holiday. And leave your work laptop at home.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The biggest difference between working and holiday is the amount of sleep you have. Lie ins become the norm. Naps in the deck chair come as standard. And if you\u2019re visiting Spain, perhaps you\u2019ll even squeeze in a siesta.<\/p>\n A study by NASA\u2019s Ames Research Centre looked at the effects of strategic napping on crews flying across the Pacific. Those who\u2019d napped stayed wide awake, while those who hadn\u2019t were fighting the urge to fall asleep an average of 22 times.<\/p>\n So if you find yourself attempting to \u2018power through\u2019 a particularly difficult period at work, take some time off!<\/p>\n For those who do creative work for a living, creativity is a currency. That\u2019s why those working at the top of their industries see time off as an essential feature of their working lives.<\/p>\n Designer Stegan Sagmeister shuts shop religiously every seven years and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates takes two week-long \u2018reading weeks\u2019 every year.<\/p>\n While many of us aren\u2019t quite lucky enough to take six months off each year, simply choosing Marrakech over Milan might be just the thing to knock you out of a creative rut.<\/p>\n And if you need some help deciding where to go, your choices are endless with Thomas Cook. Just head over to www.thomascook.com<\/a><\/strong><\/em> and book that much-need holiday with low deposits starting from as little as \u00a339pp.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n#3: Holidays give you time to catch up on sleep<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Tip #4: Holidays abroad boost creative thinking <\/strong><\/h3>\n
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