For those out there who believe that going on vacation is only to offer yourself some time to relax and be entertained, allow me to rectify your misconception. There are at least three reasons why you should vacate and have to do with keeping your physical and psychological state fit.

Experts state that going on vacation should not be considered a luxury, since it is actually something your body and mind desperately need in order to continue functioning as you expect. Since the ancient times, people have realized the importance of staying healthy and fit by temporarily stopping their working habits and letting their bodies and minds relax. The human organism needs a period to recuperate from the stress and anxieties of the fast-paced living standards we all experience today and reactivate its senses by exposing them to a variety of stimuli. But most importantly, our bodies and minds need time to "heal" from the damages and discomforts we have been causing to them during the year by not exercising enough, eating junk food and sleeping less.

The fact that your body will be able to move again, is essential to your overall well-being. Humans who are classified under the homo erectus category, due to their bodies vertical posture in relation to the ground, have over the years been transformed to a new type of sitting mammals that stand up only to visit the bathroom or change their position from the chair or couch to the bed and vise versa. On the other hand, when an individual vacates to a place other than his or her home, is going, in most cases, to remember how it feels to stand in order to perform different activities such as walking, bicycling, swimming, hiking, discovering, exploring. By moving again, the body's fitness level improves and the person feels and is in a better state of health. Usually, people that have been examined before leaving and after returning from their vacations have increased their fitness levels by 30 percent as their cardiovascular and immune systems have dramatically improved. In fact, according to researchers, the person that vacates comes back in a much better physical shape, as chronic problems like constipation seem to disappear. Although the cause is probably more psychological than physical, since during summer vacations people tend not to watch their diets, the human organism in general reacts positively to the outdoor experiences, the change in scenery and the fact that fatigue may come from having fun instead of being worn-out by over-work.

This lower stress level when combined with some quiet can work miracles to the human stamina and increase the positive outcomes of being able to sleep comfortably and continuously. Having the opportunity to relax, perform the activities of their choice and keep their hormones in balance due to natural light, people are able to enjoy a good night's sleep and at the same time increase their efficiency and productivity levels. Of course, the fact that people find time to converse, bond, and generally come closer to one another, helps their psychological state improve and become able again to enjoy the outcomes of a healthier and more balanced personal life.

Additionally, vacating increases life expectancy. Yes, it is true. According to the World Health Organization, the pollution and the difficult urban conditions one has to endure throughout a year are the main cause of death for five percent of the modern cities' mortality rate. Thus, one can assert that the next you are going to vacate you should not feel embarrassed to announce it to the rest of office or to your friends. It is, after all, your right and most importantly you owe it to your hard-working self.