“Take Back Your Vacation” Movement Gives Americans New Ways To Unwind (NAPSA)—Taking the time to relax and strike a balance between life and work is more important than ever, considering today’s hectic lifestyle, says Kathleen Hall, Ph.D., work-life balance expert at The Stress Institute. Often, technology is part of the problem, but research indicates that not taking time off, due to high travel costs, workload and concernsover job stability, plays a role as well. With that in mind, Dr. Hall and Bahama Breeze, a Carib- bean-inspired casual dining restaurant company, launched Take Back Your Vacation, a movement created to address the growing vacation deprivation problem in the United States by offering advice to overworked, overwhelmed Americans. Take Back Your Vacation commissioned a new Harris Interactive study to further explore the diminishing American vacation. The survey found that 44 percent of U.S. adults who have vacation time are not usingall of their allocated vacation time, and the top two reasons that prevent respon- dents from taking a vacation are the expense (46 percent) and work-related issues (30 percent). Experts have long endorsed the benefits of vacationing, but if Americans increasingly believe they can’t take a long vacation Baham Taking “minibreaks” can help improve health and happiness when long vacations aren’t an option. away from work, how can they achieve the work-life balance these experts say is vital to maintaining health and happiness? Recognizing that a long vacation isn’t an option for everyone, Dr. Hall discusses the importance of taking “minibreaks” from everyday routines andoffers her top 10 tips on how to reap the benefits of vacationing without leaving town on www.takebackyourvacation. com, the movement’s official site. Below are a few of Dr. Hall’s work-life balance tips: 1. Take a break. Get away on vacation and relax. If you can’t get away, create “minibreaks” by doing the things you would normally do on vacation: take a walk outside (ecotherapy), unplug from technology, try new foods, enjoy a meal out and spend time with loved ones. This allows your brain and body to recharge, giving you a refreshed feeling and outlook. 2. Eat mindfully. When you truly experience food for all it has to offer (smell, taste, color and nutrients), your body and soulwill be nourished. Savor your meals and give thanks. Choose foods that are rich in vitamin B6—such as bananas (or plantains), mangoes, peppers, chicken, sweet potatoes, etc.—to reduce the effects of stress. Also, for your brain’s sake, eat at least three servings of fish weekly. Salmon and tuna are great sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which may help protect the brain from the diseases of aging, among other health benefits. 3. Stay connected socially with family and friends. Get together for lunch or dinner, send an e-mail or call someone who means something to you. Do this at least twice a week. Research indicates that people who regularly connect with others have a greater sense of health and well-being. To read the rest of Dr. Hall’s Top 10 Tips, visit www.takeback yourvacation.com. The site also features an entertaining “How Stressed-Out Are You?” quiz, a free, downloadable vacation countdown clock and a chance to win a vacation in The Bahamas.
