Hi everybody!

The topic today is VACATION. Some of you may have been on vacation already and I sure hope  you had a super time!  If not you should really think about taking time off. Everybody needs time to relax and breathe! Your body will be the first one to thank you! We lead such crazy life! We are under pressure and stressed out most of the time! Even if you tell me you are managing your stress, your adrenaline is in constant demand!

On vacation you give that adrenaline a chance to come down. In the long run, it will benefit your overall health. You can take this time to reflect on the next part of the year, reading a book and sleeping in! Let your kids explore on their own! These days kids are so programmed. On vacation it is fun not to have an agenda! Even for a type A person like myself, I can manage to do that once a year! You will soon realize that your kids too are changing pace and discovering  to relax and play.

I would LOVE to hear what you do on vacation to relax? What makes you relax the most? Where is your favourite spot. So feel free to comment on my blog post!

Doing a quick search online here are some other reasons why you should allow yourself a rest time or vacation

1. Live longer
   A State University of New York survey found that men who took annual vacations reduced their risk of death by 20 percent. Men who didn’t take any vacations in five years had the highest death rate and incidence of heart disease than any other men surveyed.
2. Improve your mental health
   A study by Wisconsin Medical Journal found that women who took frequent vacations were less likely to become depressed, tense, or tired. Women who rarely took vacations were likelier to have stress at home and sleep less.
3. Revamp your relationships
   I don’t have any fancy studies to back this one up, it’s just common sense. A real vacation is the ideal time to reconnect and revitalize relationships that have taken a toll from an on-call, always-on, and work-obsessed culture. My 9-hour work days and blogging duties have caused my relationships to suffer more than I’d like to admit. Yes, I too need a vacation.
4. Recapture your childhood
   When was the last time you went out and play? I mean really play. Without worry of someone calling or interrupting you. Real vacations let you recapture that feeling of childlike exploratory freedom. You can wake up when you want, go to sleep when you want, and eat what you want. Most importantly, you can have fun without worrying about the consequences on work back home.
5. Gain self confidence
   “Don’t put yourself on sale.” This is my favorite mantra from financial guru Suze Orman. While Suze’s target audience is directed to women, the advice applies to everyone. When you skip vacations, you put yourself on sale. If you have 2-weeks of paid vacation and don’t use them, you’re essentially working for free. By committing to a vacation, you declare to yourself (and to others) that you are important and deserve dedicated time for yourself.
6. Find creative inspiration
   Most of the year, we live on a schedule. We eat at the same restaurants, see the same people, and experience the same environment. This monotony reduces the opportunities for inspiration and for new ways of thinking. By traveling to a foreign environment, we put ourselves in an uncomfortable situation, and allow our brains to think differently.
7. Become more productive
   What? You can more productive by not working? Yes. By scheduling two weeks of vacation a year, you force yourself to make the other 50 weeks more efficient. Your scheduled becomes an award–a carrot. This means more incentive to eliminate distractions, work more efficiently, and get things done.

What great advice!

I am very lucky to be able to go relax by a superb cottage up in Ontario. The cottage has been part of my husband’s family for years and belonged to his grand- father! He has spent many summers there playing, fishing and canoeing ! I love going there because it allows to reconnect with family. We relax on the dock, swim and just hang out. We sing some songs around the campfire.  The photo I chose looks alot like the view we have from the cottage just peaceful and relaxing!

I will therefore be away from the clinic from August 8th until August 12th. Dr Di Foglio will be there in case of an emergency! In the mean time enjoy the week and I will come back fresh and ready to adjust all my patients.

I think you will also notice the new look of my website! This explains why I have not been able to write and update my blog lately! Let me know what you think of the new look! Always love your comments.

See you soon

Valerie