The Importance of Vacations –
No Matter How Big or Small Taking a vacation means more than travelling to sunny beaches, ranging mountains, or bustling cities. Whether it is a weekend getaway or just a few days at home, there are many benefits to taking some vacation time to relax, reset, and recharge. Physical Health Benefits. Research has shown that stress contributes to several physical health complications including an increased risk of high blood pressure and heart disease. Taking the time away from work, school, or other demands can help manage stress levels to decrease this risk. Productivity and Motivation. Research has also shown that there are also benefits for motivation and productivity. Chronic stress can negatively affect focus, memory, and motivation. Taking time for a vacation can set you up to be more focused and productive at work and at home. It also makes you much less likely to experience burnout. Improved Family Relationships. Vacations have not only individual benefits but can also benefit your relationships with those around you as well. Vacations offer an opportunity for quality time with loved ones as well as a chance to reconnect. The opportunity to form memories together can also build a deeper connection. A vacation does not have to be costly in time or money in order to have these benefits. It just needs to be a break from the routines and stressors of day-to-day living. National Grief Awareness Day (8/30/2023) Grief is a natural part of the human experience that is often difficult to talk about for many people. August 30th (National Grief Awareness Day) is a day to take a moment to recognize that we all experience grief in different ways and to talk about grief in a way that promotes positive communication and healing. The idea of grief encompasses many different emotions, and you can experience grief not only when someone dies but with other types of losses too. There are also many misconceptions about grief that create feelings of shame, embarrassment, or guilt when someone struggles to move through a loss. Here are a few important reminders to support those around us that may be grieving:- Validate their feelings. If someone in grief shares how they are feeling with you, instead of trying to “fix” the emotion, offer support and understanding. Sometimes the most helpful thing for someone in grief is feeling heard and seen.
- There is no timeline for grief. Everyone works through grief in a different way and at a different pace. Every loss is different for each person affected by the loss. Do not pressure them to “move on”. Allow them to work through the memories and emotions at their own pace.
- Encourage them to talk about the lost loved one. Having a safe place to talk about what they are experiencing as well as simply sharing memories related to lost loved one can be very beneficial. Talking about the loss also helps to normalize grief instead of adding to feelings of shame. This can also apply to other types of losses such as a divorce, job loss, or a major diagnosis.
- Take extra care to connect. Grief and loss can be very isolating. Take extra care to reach out and check in on them when you can. Invite them out, support them engaging in normal activities, or just let them know that you are available if they want to talk.
If you or someone you know is struggling with grief or managing stress, help is available. Mental health professionals can help support processing all types of losses as well as coping with everyday stressors. | 
