Having a Healthy Holiday

By the time you read this, you and your children will be ready for a holiday. But, again, you may think you are too busy to take time off. You think the world will come to an end if you are not around. Well, you are not the only one who thinks like this. About five million Canadians think the same way.

As somebody has said: Work is a mysterious thing; many of us claim to hate it, but it takes a grip on us that is so fierce that it captures emotions and loyalties we never knew were there.

So, if you are not listening to your mind, your body or your children then see if you like what Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) has to say. This is what he said about 500 years ago:

Every now and then go away,
Have little relaxation,
For when you come back to your work
Your judgement will be surer;
Since to remain constantly at work
Will cause you to lose power of judgement…
Go some distance away
Because the work appears smaller
And more of it can be taken in at a glance,
And lack of harmony or proportion
Is more readily seen.

If that was true then surely it is true now. As the Eddy Bauer ad says: Never confuse having a career with having a life.

If you have already planned to take a holiday then make sure it is safe and healthy. Food and water is what we consume the most on our holidays. You should make sure that drinking water is safe. Otherwise look for bottled water.

Be careful about fast food. Food sold by street vendors and restaurants, which do not look clean, should be avoided. Do not forget your daily dose of fruits and vegetables to keep your bowels regular.

If you have a medical condition then make sure you have enough medications with you to last through your holiday. If you are planning to go abroad then make sure your medication containers are labelled appropriately so the customs officers do not bother you.

Don’t forget to take your running or walking shoes. Thirty minutes of daily exercise will keep your body tuned up. If you are flying or driving then exercise your ankles and calf muscles to avoid forming a clot in the deep veins of your legs. Do not drive if you are tired. Take a break and have power nap. Or let somebody else drive for few hours while you rest.

Jet lag and time difference is another problem. You are not only sleep deprived but also your digestive and other systems take a beating. There is no easy solution to this problem. Just have to catch up with your sleep and adjust slowly over few days.

These are just a few ideas on making your holiday safe and healthy. If you are one of the five million Canadians trying to win the rat race then remember what Lily Tomlin said, “Even if you win the rat race, you are still a rat!”

Well, who wants to be a rat? I want to be a happy camper, and one way to do that is to listen to what Leonardo da Vinci has said. “Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation….”

And have a safe, happy and healthy summer holiday.

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