Newswise — Taking a vacation " getting away from work and your everyday schedule " is not just a fun diversion. It's essential for mental health and creativity, says Dr. Ann Matt Maddrey, assistant professor of psychiatry at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.
"We typically think of a vacation as a period of rest and relaxation," she says. "But if you look at the word 'vacate,' it means to 'leave' or 'empty out' " as in empty one's mind of your normal routine, to make way for other things.
"Sometimes we get so stressed that we don't take time to recharge. When a battery runs down, there's no energy left; it needs to be recharged. That's exactly what happens to people."
Whether you leave town or stay at home, vacations offer a chance to increase creativity, see different things and different people, and take oneself away from life's daily grind, Dr. Maddrey says. And vacations don't have to cost a fortune.
"Take a virtual vacation," she says. "Decide what kind of vacation you want and replicate it at home. Home can be a haven and safe place where you can recharge as well.
"Vacations are NOT a waste of time. You can't give what you don't have. You will do a much better job and have new ideas when you return."
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