In 2006, I was in a conference about Autism, and the role of music in treating autism was being debated fiercely. Some people shared studies where music played a role in treating autism and the other half presented studies where they could not find any link between music and autism. The chairperson, exasperated, called an end to the debate with the following words, “Music helps. Autism or not! So don’t worry about the role of music. It is simply good.”

Travel is no different. While we look for ‘benefits’ of traveling, there are so many that it cannot be put in words. In fact, there are many that we don’t know yet; rather science doesn’t know yet. What science knows though is good enough. For example, people who travel tend to step out a lot more and get fresh air. Fresh air has its own set of goodness and health benefits.

 

PC:pslovecharli.com

The beauty of travel is that all forms of travel seem to play a role in health. Solo travelers are those who feel the need to get away and for them it is very essential to reduce their stress. Family trips? Oh yeah.Those who get away with family end up spending more quality time with them and it helps build a bond that then reduces stress. Those who don’t spend time with family during vacation also seem to have their benefits. Ultimately, studies have shown that any form of traveling reduces stress. The quantum may vary though.

 

PC: daily.oktagon.co.id

How do we optimize travel? Couples with kids who take an annual break without the kids fare a lot better and are equipped to handle day to day stress. Studies have shown that an average of 10 vacation days is required for Indians and about 14 days for the western population. The difference maybe because Indians are poor vacationers, even a relatively smaller number of vacation days seems to make a difference.

One of the most common questions I get asked is, “Doc, when the remaining 355 days are stressful, how can 10 days of vacation make a difference”. Well, it can’t make a difference to the 355 days you were stressed out, but it makes a big difference to those 10 days you decide to take off. And these ten days act like a circuit breaker, as it sort of breaks the stress build up. So essentially at any given point of time, you won’t have a decade worth of stress built up, just one year!

Actually forget all of it. Travel is super fun and super awesome. Don’t worry about what it does to your body, mind and soul. Once you experience it, it is addictive! A good addiction.

Our collaborator, is preventive care and wellness physician, Dr. Wasim Mohideen. A medical professional with an MBA and Post Graduate training in Allopathy as well as Alternative medicine, he strives to bridge the gap between modern medicine, traditional treatments and healthcare management.

Feature Image Courtesy: tumblr.com