Summer Unplugged

In today’s world, we’re constantly connected. Social media, work emails, and life’s demands are always just a tap, click, or call away.

Psychologists and numerous studies say this constant connection is stressing us out, but you don’t have to convince me. When I left for vacation, the idea of being unreachable to my work colleagues sent me into overdrive.

But now that I’m here? There’s literally nothing I can do about it. I’m disconnected. All I can do is … relax.

I breathe a deep sigh of relief, inhaling Vancouver Island’s pristine air as a cool breeze sends ripples across the lake. It’s like the wind is blowing away the stress of the daily grind.

A Canadian time crunch

While the Canadian government says approximately a quarter of us feel like our day-to-day lives are very stressful, some health care professionals I chatted with think that number is a bit off. “In practice, it seems much higher,” says Dr. Mélanie DesChâtelets, a naturopathic physician in Burnaby, BC, who sees many patients suffering from chronic stress.

It turns out I’m not the only one struggling to find time to relax. In its report last year, the Canadian Index of Wellbeing highlighted some disappointing statistics:

Of the eight indicators of Canadian well-being, one metric—our leisure time—has seen the most dramatic drop out of all of them.

The amount of vacation we take has plummeted by more than 30 percent in the past few years.

We spend less money on recreation and leisure than we ever have since the early 1990s.

“These trends bode poorly for the well-being of individuals, communities, and society,” warned the index’s researchers.

Stress 101

Stress isn’t inherently bad. It helped our ancestors dodge sabre-toothed tigers and other prehistoric dangers, and today it helps us navigate life. “If we didn’t get stressed, we wouldn’t survive,” laughs Dr. Jam Caleda, a naturopathic physician in Vancouver.

“Stress gets out of hand when it becomes overconsuming,” he explains, “when the manifestation of stress becomes burdensome on our minds, our organs, and our general well-being.”

“When we allow stress to get the best of us, we put ourselves at risk of developing a range of illnesses, from a common cold to heart disease,” warns Gillian Mandich, a holistic health promoter and happiness researcher in London, Ontario.

Vacations, relaxing, and de-stressing don’t just reduce these harmful effects, but they actually improve our well-being. “Benefits of relaxing include decreased blood pressure, improved focus and concentration, improved energy, and less muscle tension,” says Mandich, to name a few.

A vacation state of mind

Taking a break doesn’t start with a destination, but with intention. “Vacationing is a state of mind, a deliberate effort to focus on appreciation,” says DesChâtelets.

“Put yourself as the priority,” Caleda says. This is the top mindset that we need to focus on if we want to truly learn how to unwind. He notes that for many of us, we think we can put off going on vacation until we have more time, or when life slows down, or when work is no longer so hectic.

“In reality,” says Caleda, “if you take time to do something for yourself every day, the burden of the things you need to do to succeed in life becomes less difficult.” Prioritizing ourselves and slowing down actually helps us be more and do more.

“Really tap back into how to be a kid,” Caleda suggests. “I ask myself, what did I do as a kid that fed me? When I look at myself through past stressful situations and I think about what I did [as] to get myself happy, if I do it now it still works!” This could be sports with friends or board games with the family. Other at-home relaxation ideas include

• hiring a massage therapist who does home visits
• indulging in aromatherapy and soothing music
• creating your own yoga retreat: unplug the phone, stop the mail, order a healthy juice delivery service, and enjoy your favourite yoga DVDs for a few days

Should I stay or should I go now?

We don’t need to travel hundreds of miles to escape. “Find vacation spots in your city or home,” recommends DesChâtelets. Staycations are one of the top travel trends this year, and more than half of Canadians say exploring Canada is their top travel plan in 2017.

“I have a favourite breakfast joint that plays Latin music,” says DesChâtelets. “Every time I go, I feel I’ve been transported to Central America. When I head to our local beaches, admiring the views of mountains and trees, I can close my eyes and imagine I’ve flown from afar to be here.”

These little staycations help DesChâtelets stay grounded. “Both my partner and I have businesses, so there have been stints when we’ve had to work through tough times,” she says.

She looks for early signs of stress in herself. “I tend to feel physically tired and notice that my motivation to reach my goals wanes,” she says. “When that happens, I know it’s time for a quick pattern interruption to disconnect, reflect, learn, and recharge.”

“Often, it’s a weekend getaway nearby,” she says. For de-stressing, she thinks staying local is sometimes actually better than going somewhere exotic. “[If it’s] somewhat familiar, I don’t have to exert energy exploring.”

Nature-based R&R

“I was recently collecting data for my research study, and recruitment was a challenge at first,” recalls Mandich. She was worried she wasn’t going to get the sample size she needed, which would jeopardize her entire study.

“I’ve worked really hard to learn tools like meditation and yoga, yet in this situation they weren’t working,” she says. “So I decided to take a few days and head to a quiet retreat in the woods to relax and regroup.”

She booked a stay at an organic resort. “It was nestled in the woods on a secluded 50 acres,” she says. When considering your next getaway, that point is key.

Vacationing in nature, whether it’s forests or beaches or mountains, has tangible benefits. Numerous studies show how reconnecting with the great outdoors soothes away chronic stress, makes us feel better, and boosts our mental health, especially for those of us who live in cities.

“I felt reinvigorated,” recalls Mandich of her forested escape. “It’s amazing what perspective, vision, and clarity you can find when you pause and take a step back from a stressful situation.”

It starts with you

Whether it’s curling up with a book at home or flying somewhere tropical, book time for yourself today. It will help you regain balance and energy. A little rest now sets you up for a successful rest of the year.