Vacations are good for your general health and your marriage!

[rikkis_playpen Diamond Club Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close rikkis_playpen]

Vacations provide mental health benefits for women

The study focused on women- but it was shocking to me to see the percentage that don't take vacations!

[MargeS Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close MargeS]

I know I have always felt that way. Exactly!
Must be why I am usually stress free....

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Not a great study IMHO. It does indicate that one or two vacations a year are beneficial, but higher amounts of yearly vacations were not mentioned. I would contend that too many vacations can be as stressful as too little- based on the year we took 12 weeks of vacation.

[geoholiday2009 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close geoholiday2009]

Nice article you've got there, thanks for sharing!!!
That is why, sometimes we need a vacation to take out the stress away...

[Hobbitess Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hobbitess]

I would contend that too many vacations can be as stressful as too little- based on the year we took 12 weeks of vacation.

I'm sure you're right, but I'm guessing few people are likely to over-vacation, while the survey makes it pretty clear that under-vacationing is chronic! I don't expect researchers to worry too much about those few who are stressing themselves out with too many vacations when nearly half of those surveyed weren't vacationing even once a year, and the grand majority no more than once a year. Once it's generally accepted that vacations are worth doing, then they'll start fussing about too much of a good thing.

[jlwquilter Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jlwquilter]

Vacations certainly help me reduce stress and have a pleasant time with husband and daughter... unless my father comes along. Then it's stress city in every way possible. After several vacations with good old Dad along I have learned that painful lesson. So going forward, even though I do feel some guilt, Dad is no longer getting an invitation. Sigh....

My DH and I didn't vacation for years. No money, no real knowledge of how to do it (places to go, finding deals, etc.), etc. but then came timesharing a few years ago and we are loving it now.

I can totally see how many many weeks of vacationing can be stressful. Hard to juggle being away from home that much with home care and "regular" daily life stuff.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

I'm one of those who sometimes stresses about going on vacations. I start planning my year and I'm doing good with 4-5 vacations but then I start seeing the last calls and get greedy. Before I know it, I'm on 12 vacations a year and stressed trying to juggle life and vacation. Hopefully there's a cure for what ails me.

[Hobbitess Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hobbitess]

I start planning my year and I'm doing good with 4-5 vacations but then I start seeing the last calls and get greedy.

Four to five week-long vacations a year sounds ideal to me. Three a year is just a skinch too few, while an average of every other month would be pushing it. Twelve a year sounds like guaranteed stress to me, but I'm sure that the ideal range is individual. I like vacationing, but I like coming home, too, and I'm wouldn't like vacationing for a month or more at a shot as some do.

[Travelingfool Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Travelingfool]

this year

This year we have taken more then ever. A total of seven weeks. We both still work full time and just quite our second jobs. So I am noticing that I am looking for more vacations. Maybe I am addicted to vacationing now instead of work.