Author : Matthew G. Kadey
Are you going to work and enjoying it less every day? If so, you are not alone. Increasingly, Canadians feel overworked and overstressed. In pursuit of the 60-hour workweek, one of the first things many of us sacrifice is serious beach time. Unfortunately we may be sacrificing not only a nice tan but also our long-term well-being.Travel for the Health of ItA nine-year study conducted by the Department of Psychology at the State University of New York, Oswego, found that those who skipped vacations were more likely to suffer heart attacks than those who took at least one week's annual leave. Escape from everyday stressors and the simple anticipation of an upcoming vacation contribute positively to this finding.Yet Canadians have far less vacation time than most other industrialized nations. Just look at Germany, for example. Our two weeks of mandated rest and relaxation pales in comparison to the five weeks most Germans enjoy.When most Canadians do travel it is little more than just for show. One-week vacations full of email, calls to the office, and arguments about which restaurant to go to are all too common. These vacationers don't know what they are missing.Take a Little Extra TimeCycling for a few weeks at a time is what I call travelling. It's quite different from the time constraints of a rushed one-week hiatus from the office.Over the years, I have accumulated some 15,000 kilometres of self-supported cycle touring experience. Without fail, a few weeks into each trip I enter a state of relaxation that is unattainable in the land of deadlines. Travelling by human power allows me to forget about clocks, meetings, and mortgage payments, and instead allows me to immerse in sun, surf, and culture.Because I travel for weeks at a time I can fully appreciate the land and the people of the places I cycle. Whether it was emergency dental surgery in a New Zealand basement, being attacked by raccoons in Washington State or black flies in Labrador, or hanging out with naked hippies in a remote Hawaiian valley, the ability to extend travel time and move at the slower pace that a bicycle affords has allowed me to experience these interesting twists of life.Travel Is a Recreational SportPerhaps one of the greatest benefits of extending your travels past the standard one- or two-week mark is what happens when you finally do return to reality. I always come back with a new appreciation for the things I love–writing, for example. I enjoy writing but even it can get tiresome after several months of staring at the computer. Spend a few weeks slicing pineapples in the land of Aloha, though, and my brain is refreshed. When it is time to write again, my enthusiasm for punching away at the keyboard is stronger than ever.Is there a mountain that you have always wanted to summit? Is there an island somewhere that needs to be cycled? Or maybe it's finally time to travel the world. If not now, then when? You have worked hard for your vacation time, so take it.Your health may depend on it.Matthew G. Kadey, MSc, RD, is a registered dietician, photographer, and freelance writer who owns Fuel For Life. He is a regular contributor to alive magazine. Visit http://www.alive.com for related articles.
Keyword : overworked,stress,vacation,workload,heavy workload,relax,relaxation
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