If you’ve been debating whether or not to book that girls trip with your besties, what you’re about to read might just persuade you otherwise.
It’s all too easy to get caught up in the avalanche of deadlines, emails, and chores that you have to do in today’s fast-paced environment.
You’re too tired at the end of the week to have any fun, so you sleep for the whole weekend. We’re not suggesting that’s a terrible thing, but everyone needs a break from time to time, right?
However, studies show that taking a break not only allows you to rest and relax, but it is also necessary for excellent health and a long life!
Social relationships “not only provide us joy, but they also impact our long-term health in ways as bit as potent as enough sleep, a decent diet, and not smoking,” according to the Harvard Women’s Health Watch.
Of course, our social ties include our relationships with our family, but research shows that having strong friendships may help you avoid health problems like heart disease, live longer, and even enhance your pain tolerance!
In fact, psychologists were able to anticipate the size of a person’s social network based on their pain tolerance.
Friendships, in addition to these benefits, can make us happy. Researchers discovered evidence in 2016 that socializing with friends might enhance the production of oxytocin, the feel-good hormone produced by our body when we are pleased.
Oxytocin has been shown to make people more trustworthy, kind, and friendly – all qualities you want in a buddy!
However, this is bad news for people who have trouble making social bonds. Scientists observed that those who don’t have close connections “tend to be more sad, had later-life cognitive impairment,” and, worse, “were more likely to die at a younger age” when they looked at the opposite end of the spectrum.
Lack of social bonds raised the chance of early mortality from all causes by 50%, according to a research that looked at the lives of 309,000 people. This is roughly the same effect as smoking up to 15 cigarettes each day.
In addition, a 2012 Dutch study indicated that persons who are lonely are more likely to acquire dementia.
According to psychologist William Chopik of Michigan State University: “Keeping a few really good friends around can make a world of difference for our health and well-being. So, it’s smart to invest in the friendships that make you happiest.”
Forbes also reported that women who use their vacation time frequently “are less likely to become tense, depressed or tired and are happier with their marriages”.
And when we say vacation time, we mean traveling and going out there, not just a day off to complete errands you couldn’t accomplish during the week.
Women who do not travel as much, on the other hand, have a “greater risk of heart disease and mortality from heart disease.” It’s worth noting that identical findings were found in a study of males, although women seemed to gain more from traveling with close friends.
So, do you need any more excuses to plan a ladies getaway with your besties?
We understand – it’s not easy to tear oneself away from life’s responsibilities, and an out-of-town vacation might deplete your carefully managed budget.
But, given the proof that traveling with your friends may provide a variety of physiological and emotional benefits, isn’t it worth trying every now and then?
Perhaps the next time you want to treat yourself, a girls vacation would be the greatest option, not only for you but also for your pals.
