Health & Wellness: Retreat & Rejuvenate by Sue Grace

If I could pack a bag, throw it in the back of my car and head down the road for my ideal vacation, I would probably end up on an isolated Pacific Coast shoreline where I could hear sea lions barking and waves crashing and where the scenery is like something out of a sports car advertisement.
Instead, this summer I ended up in a less exotic, but beautiful, vacation spot along the shoreline of Lake Michigan in my hometown, Milwaukee. I found it restful and renewing; my husband, however, dragged his working world with him, complete with laptop and cell phone, mentally staying in his office-away-from-his-office for much of our trip.
His experience of our “vacation” is truly American. As a nation, we take less time off than workers in most other industrialized countries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly 25 percent of American workers don’t receive paid vacation. And many who do skip the time off and bankroll the extra pay. Others skip it to avoid dealing with the piles of paperwork and backlog of emails they would face upon their return. Or, like my husband, they take “pseudo vacations.”
The devaluation of leisure has led to higher levels of stress among workers, and subsequently, cardiovascular problems. A Farmington Health Study, which examined women’s responses to questionnaires over a 20-year period, found that those who vacationed once every six years were eight times more likely to develop coronary heart disease or have a heart attack than women who vacationed at least twice per year. Another nine-year study of 12,000 men at high risk for coronary heart disease found that those who didn’t take a vacation at least once a year increased their risk of death from heart attack by 32 percent.
Vacation offers what is called “a respite effect.” Try out some of these ideas to provide a respite from the grind of daily living.
Electronics-free zones
· Pick a location that makes it easy to tune out. The Sheraton Hotel in Chicago has developed the “BlackBerry Check-In Program.” Guests who turn-over their PDAs are rewarded with various freebees such as complimentary dinners and free or upgraded accommodations.
· Find isolated, scenic destinations that make it easy to disconnect. One of my personal favorites is Chiricahua National Monument. Located in southeastern Arizona, the natural beauty of its rocky spires is greatly enhanced by its peace and quiet. Only dedicated nature lovers will travel to this remote location.
Retreat & Rejuvenate
· Try a retreat. Retreats provide the perfect environment for reflection and meditation. “Retreats are a means to look within ourselves in stillness and silence, to locate what may be missing in our lives…”, writes Lani Luciano in “Where the Spirit Moves You.”. Whether for spiritual renewal or for personal growth, retreat opportunities are abundantly available and very popular with Americans. The website Findthedevine.com is a good source of information on the subject.
· Add physical activity to your vacation. How about bicycling through Sonoma’s wine country? Or white water rafting on the Colorado River? Adding a physical element adds to your ability to truly relax and unwind. Once you get your heart working in the fresh air and sunshine, it is hard not to let go of one’s troubles, if only for a few days!