It’s important to give brain a vacation

Taking a vacation and getting away from work is not just fun, it’s important for mental health, a U.S. psychiatry researcher said.

Dr. Munro Cullum, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, said some level of stress can help people keep going and hasten projects and accomplishments.

If stress becomes too much, however, it can also result in negative physiological reactions that can lead to illness. Exercise, a healthful diet and adequate sleep are important, but people need some down time, to allow their brains to work offline, Cullum said.

Our brains need a rest now and then, Cullum said in a statement. More and more we are flooded with information in ever-increasing quantities, with more ‘to-do’ lists, more to keep in mind and more things to remember — such as passwords, PIN numbers, computer procedures, day timers, appointments, cell phones, e-mail — not to mention the everyday demands of life in today’s busy society.

During vacation, leave work at the office, Cullum advised.

Being ‘on-call’ via phone and e-mail during vacation is being on edge, which can detract from being in the moment and allowing your mind to have a break, Cullum said. Getting away for a vacation can be an important and effective means of allowing us time to de-stress and simply play and leave the ‘baggage’ behind.