NationalExpressSummer2017 - 42

◆ LIVE WELL

to switch off from work and relax,
what's the point? Well, research
by the Transamerica Center for
Retirement Studies revealed that
going on holiday can improve
your health. In fact, the older
generation is encouraged to keep
travelling as it makes them active.
A study by Global Ageing
Coalition revealed women who
went on holiday every six years or
less had a significantly higher risk
of heart attack or coronary heart
disease compared with women
who travelled at least twice a year.
Men who don't take an annual
vacation have a 30% greater
risk of death from heart
disease, according to a
separate study.

Well rested

Despite those who feel they're
more stressed on return to
work, time off can do wonders
for productivity and creativity.
Travel can relax your mind and

42

FLIGHT OR FIGHT?
While the anticipation of
going away excites many
people, some can't think
beyond the journey itself.
Luckily, coaches provide a
great alternative to planes,
because one of the most
common causes of travel
anxiety is fear of flying.
Believed to affect one in
10 of the world's population,
aviophobia can be linked
to the fear of planes, or a
psychological problem
such as a panic attack in
mid-air or claustrophobia,
or external fears like
turbulence and bad weather.
Thankfully, there are
ways to help alleviate your
fears. Practise relaxation
techniques and self-help
strategies, inspired by
apps such as Headspace
(free), HelloMind (free) and,
specifically for nervous
fliers, Soar (free). They
provide guided meditations
and exercises to use on
the run-up to your flight
and during it.
If alcohol
helps to calm
your nerves,
have one. Just
the one though, as
excessive drinking
can make you
even more
anxious.

body: a bit like
recharging your
batteries and,
once you're back
at your desk, your
performance levels
should be higher
than they were before you
set off for sunnier climes. Plus
relaxation is a great way to
decrease tension, while sunshine
is a natural mood elevator.
You also get improved shut-eye
during and after a holiday - and
we don't mean catching up on
sleep after a week's clubbing in
Ibiza! Being in a new bed (hotel,
rented apartment, B&B or just
a relative's house) helps you
detach from the usual stress
you feel at home. Holidays allow
you to schedule in a better sleep
routine - even if that's just one
hour more than you'd get with
your regular sleep pattern.

Back home

However, the dread of getting
back to normal is real, with postholiday blues something which
can last as long as five days. To
beat this, try to introduce your
highlights at home, such as going
out for your favoured holiday
cuisine or booking a swim session.
Of course, the best way to get
over holiday blues is to book
yourself another one... 

National Express has regular services
to all major airports, visit nationalexpress.com

IMAGES: Getty Images SOURCES: *The ILM survey of more than 1,000 UK workers and managers

TIME OFF
CAN DO
WONDERS FOR
PRODUCTIVITY
A N D C R E AT I V I T Y
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