Taking a Vacation Is Good for Your Personal and Financial Health

For many of us, summertime means vacation time. Yet nearly half of workers don’t take all of their paid time off. Beyond just the pleasure of getting away from it all for a few days, there are many benefits to taking that much-needed rest. It’s not just a break for your body and mind, but feeling refreshed can offer you the perspective you’ll need when you return to your everyday life.1

Here’s why you should pack your bags on the regular.

• Physical Health: Your doctor should applaud if you skip town for a while. According to the Mayo Clinic, annual vacations can lower the risks of health issues like coronary heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, among others.1
• Mental Health: Less stress is a good thing. A vacation of four days or longer can lower your cortisol, also known as the stress hormone.1
• Fight Burnout: The benefits of a break carry on after you return to the real world. Just be sure it’s a real vacation and let those work emails wait.
• Saving for Vacation as a Financial Practice: Setting aside a bit of money ahead of your trip is a wise move. Plus, a vacation fund can help you spend less time worrying about costs and more time actually relaxing.

It’s not frivolous to rest: it’s necessary. Although we might get the idea that overworking is a virtue, grinding yourself down with no relief only leads to deeper and deeper exhaustion. So take a look at your calendar, pick a destination, and start daydreaming about your next restorative break. You won’t regret it!

Health Tip

Doctors and physical therapists highly recommend strength training for staying healthy at any age. Retaining more muscle and bone mass as you age helps with balance and recovery from injuries. Plus, strength training can help you feel more physically and emotionally confident outdoors, or wherever you find yourself.2

Embracing Volunteerism: The Beauty of Giving

For folks in their second half of life, volunteering offers an opportunity to stay involved, active, and engaged with their local community. If you are looking for ways to make an impact, here are some things you might want to consider.3

• What Do You Care About? Spend some time thinking about your values. What might be interesting or personally rewarding to you? What tugs at your heart? Do you love animals? Is there a special interest, population, or faith community that could use your help?
• Keep it Local. Hospitals, charities, and schools in your neighborhood might benefit from your time, energy, and experience. Local resources, such as your public library or community center, may spark connections and ideas.
• Take Your Time. Start small and work up from there. Offering a few hours to begin with can help you assess how much time and energy you might want to offer. You can always dial up your contribution if you’re enjoying it, but it’s harder to dial back.
• Offer Assistance Online. If you’d rather stay close to home, there may be opportunities to volunteer remotely. You could answer a hotline, manage administrative tasks, teach classes, or offer mentorship online.

Volunteering is a beautiful way to stay connected, while also putting your life experience to work for the greater good. If you’re a volunteer, thank you! Our local communities succeed because of the efforts of people like you.

Did You Know?

On February 20, 1947, scientists launched a rocket into space with fruit flies on board. They returned to Earth alive by parachute after reaching an altitude of 68 miles, making them among the earliest (and smallest) pioneers of space flight.4

On the Bright Side

Firefighters Deliver Groceries After Car Accident

Three firefighters from Washington stepped in to deliver groceries when a delivery driver was involved in a car accident. Central Pierce Fire & Rescue shared a social media post describing the incident. Although the driver was unharmed, their car had to be towed, making the delivery impossible. To save the day, the firefighters took it upon themselves to deliver the groceries to the grateful customer. “It was a small gesture that made a big difference. Serving our community sometimes means going beyond emergency response,” the post read.5

Brain Teaser

Two men want to escape from a locked cell with a dirt floor. Its unbarred window is too high to reach, and digging a tunnel would take too long. But one man figures out how to escape. What is his plan?