| Travel for Your Health |
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| Written by David Loren Sullivan |
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I want a vacation! This statement may mean more than all of us realize. Studies have recently shown that your well-being may depend on it. According to the Conference Board, a firm specializing in private research, the number of Americans who will take a vacation within six months is the lowest in thirty years. 39% of the respondents who took their standard consumer survey were also not considering travel next year -- a low since 1978. Public health consultants believe this is a mistake. Just when job insecurity and stress are at an all-time high, we could use a break. The Framingham Heart Study, an ambitious health research project, has been striving since 1948 to identify common risk factors contributing to cardiovascular disease. Researchers of the project observed three generations of questionnaires filled out over a twenty year period. The data showed women who vacationed only once every six years or less were almost eight times more likely to develop coronary artery disease or have a heart attack. The relationship between lifestyle and stress is clear. Another study released in 2000 that involved 12,000 men over nine years had parallel results. Those men who did not take a vacation at least once a year increased their risk of death from a heart attack by 33% while also increasing their risk of death from other causes by 21%. The results also indicate that mental health is affected by vacations. Scientists at the Marshfield Clinic of Wisconsin report an increased rate of depression with a decrease in the frequency of vacations. These studies suggest real evidence that taking a vacation is necessary to your health and well-being. Now is the time to reinvent our travel plans. With pressure on spending budgets, considering all the options is a smart idea. Not long ago, the emergent travel giant, MOR Vacations, unveiled a new product that will allow families to travel while squeezing the most out of their limited finances. Securing time off from work may be the only thing standing in the way. According to the BLS, one-quarter of Americans who work in the private business sector are not afforded paid vacation time. Further, there are 127 countries that do have mandatory paid vacation time. The U.S., however, is not among them. The editor of Take Back Your Time, John de Graaf, is lobbying for an amendment to the Fair Labor Standards Act that would guarantee three weeks paid vacation to anyone who has worked at a job for a minimum of one year. Although a tough sell, this arrangement is more tempting to business because vacation time is more predictable than sick time. Economic indicators are still pointing downhill. Making up for the negative effects is necessary to our continued health. Allocating funds towards a lavish, tranquil vacation is even more compelling. We all have it coming. A lifetime travel club membership could add up to be an excellent investment. Steer clear of timeshare scams which require annual maintenance fees and lengthy payment arrangements. Investigate options offering only an up-front fee and a membership that is fully-transferrable. Free unlimited guest travel and upgrade to VIP status for new members is even more valuable. A product like this will leverage your work-life balance and make the most of your travel budget. About The Author: David Loren Sullivan is an avid traveler and affiliate with MOR Vacations. Visit his website for more ideas and solutions for luxury travel. Kindly provided by 4Girls.dk You are welcome to use this article on your own website, if you include this link. |