WITH EACH STEP ECHOING THE HEARTBEAT of my adventurous self, I embark on journeys across distant realms and nearby wonders, weaving a tapestry of thrilling tales. I recently vacationed in Spain and have been thinking about the transformative power of vacationing.
This year, Madrid and Sevilla, Kona (Hawaii), and New York City. I am thinking about Osaka for later this year.
Today, I want to share with you what neuroscience teaches us about taking time away.
Shakespeare’s Musings
First, a bit from the Bard:
FRIAR LAWRENCE
A gentler judgment vanished from his lips:
Not body’s death, but body’s banishment.
ROMEO
Ha, banishment? Be merciful, say “death,”
For exile hath more terror in his look,
Much more than death. Do not say “banishment.”
FRIAR LAWRENCE
Here from Verona art thou banishèd.
Be patient, for the world is broad and wide.
This passage is from Romeo and Juliet. We hear Friar Lawrence’s dialogue as he tells Romeo he is banished from Verona. Of course, being a typical teenager, Romeo whines that he might as well be dead.
The world is indeed broad and wide. Let’s get to the subject of vacationing.
Unleashing my Wanderlust: Food
The word rings nicely in my ears. Have you heard of wanderlust? Here is a definition; the word’s meaning makes sense to me:
Wanderlust is a lust for wandering. The word comes from German, in which wandern means “to hike or roam about,” and Lust means “pleasure or delight.”
I hope that you have the pleasure of indulging in tapas. A tapa is an appetizer or snack in Spanish cuisine.
My family and I often combined tapas to create a full meal. On other occasions, we had tapas as snacks.
We ate cold tapas (mixed olives, cheese, and more). We ate hot tapas (for example, chopitos — battered, fried baby squid). Here’s a recipe for chopitas, one of the most popular tapas in Madrid and southern Spain:
Chopitos recipe, one of the most ordered tapas in Spain.
fascinatingspain.com
Unleashing my Wanderlust: Flamenco
Flamenco is a Spanish art form comprising three parts: singing, dancing, and guitar playing.
Given globalization has brought flamenco to the world stage, I had heard about the art form. I didn’t realize that flamenco is more than a dancer moving elegantly; the singing and guitar playing are vital to its execution.
Here is a photo I took in Seville:
In Seville, the best-known park is the expansive Parque Maria Luisa. Within this lovely section is the famous Plaza de España, a monumental square dating back to the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929.
I especially enjoyed the Neo-Moorish tile-studded buildings that enveloped a long boating canal and massive fountain.
I hope all of this talk about tapas, flamenco, and fabulous city parks sparked your wanderlust for Spain (or other travel).
The Transformative Power of Vacationing
How can you plan a vacation that maximizes the psychological (and career) benefits of time off?
European neuroscientists Juan Pérez Fernández and Roberto de la Torre Martínez explain in The Conversation the effects that time away has on the brain.
First, rest increases cognitive flexibility. A 2016 study in which 46 workers from a Dutch company participated provides insights.
Researchers gave the subjects objects (for example, a manner) and then asked for the greatest number of uses for the object in the shortest possible time.
Vacationing — Study Results
Here are the results of the scientific investigation of vacationing and cognitive flexibility:
After two or three weeks of vacation, workers had greater cognitive flexibility. They could think of more uses for the objects compared to the results obtained a couple of weeks before the holidays.
The researchers note that most studies agree that, from a biological point of view, stress reduction is one of the main reasons for this increase in cognitive flexibility.
While acute stress sometimes has value, chronic stress can wreak havoc on your mind and body.
Chronic stress puts your health at risk.
Your body’s stress reaction was meant to protect you. But when it’s always on alert, your health can pay the price.www.mayoclinic.org
Your Keys to Successfully Vacationing
How can you design a good vacation to reduce chronic stress? When we are at rest, our brains can reverse — at least temporarily — the bad effects of stress.
For your holiday to be effective, you should work to free yourself from work stress. Put the email and pending tasks aside. In Spain, I tuned out.
On the other hand, you should refrain from allowing your holiday to create new stressful situations.
The neuroscientists also remind us to enjoy the anticipation of the holiday. Knowing you are about to go on holiday increases your brain’s dopamine. This neurotransmitter plays a key role in the pleasant feelings brought on by new experiences and rewards.
Dopamine, a brain neurotransmitter, is associated with pleasure. Two brain areas (the substantial nigra and ventral tegmental areas) produce dopamine.
My best vacations involve new experiences, such as exploring the back alleys of Seville or the wonderful parks of Madrid.
Find Your Sweet Spot for Vacation
Find your sweet spot (what makes me happy may stress you) and let the dopamine flow. Feel good, recharge, and drop your stress.
Finally, I recognize that I am quite privileged to travel abroad, but spark joy vacations are right around the corner for most of us.
Tips for Vacation Success
1. Unplug. You cannot escape work stress if you keep checking in with work. Put the email and pending tasks aside.
2. Savor the planning. Knowing your vacation is coming increases your brain’s dopamine levels, enhancing your happiness.
3. Embrace new things. My most memorable holidays involved new (and often challenging) experiences. The neuroscientists remind us that we must find our sweet spot between overly stimulating and slothful.
And while Pérez Fernández and de la Torre Martínez don’t have strong thoughts about the ideal vacation length, prior studies have suggested that at least eight days results in peak vacation joy.
Finally, I have a re-entry strategy of one day off before I return to work.
Where are you going next? Please share in the comments.
Get an email whenever Dr. Michael Hunter publishes.
drmichaelhunter.medium.com
The information I provided in this blog is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. I am not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information in this blog.
Thank you for reading “The Transformative Power of Vacationing.”
