Make 2012 A Year for Vacations

Europeans outlive Americans by a year and a half, according to new research.

Despite efforts to promote healthy lifestyles and reduce healthcare costs, smoking and obesity remain the top reasons why Europeans live longer than Americans, said  researchers at the Center for Health Policy and Economics at the University of Southern California.

Europeans may smoke and drink, but they vacation more, which, in turn, reduces stress that leads to heart disease and stroke. Researchers compared lifespans in Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden and focused on morality rates of elderly. The United States could improve life expectancy if it reduces rates of obesity and obesity-related illnesses to European levels, they said.

Americans work overtime and longer work weeks if they can get a bigger paycheck, but Europeans highly regard their free time and time off. They often refuse to work weekends and take a month of vacation time. In addition, productivity in Europe is on the rise and is coming close to the productivity rate in the United States. Workers are more productive if they aren’t stressed and overworked. Vacations go a long way to improving productivity rates, researchers said. Even taking a month off from work, Europeans don’t have to fear for their jobs as they do in America. Employers in the United States should take a cue from Europe and promote more vacation time.

While vacations wouldn’t reduce obesity-related illnesses unless Americans took hiking or biking trips, it would help Americans fight diseases by providing an outlet for stress or a way to relax. They also would increase productivity and increase overall economic benefits.

Joining a vacation club allows Americans to take more vacations throughout the year for minimum finances. Vacation Dayz is available to discuss how to travel more and reduce stress resulting from the pressures of life, such as job, family and health issues. The company also helps employers include vacations as part of their benefit packages.

Vacation Dayz wants its customers to reduce stress and obesity through travel. The company offers the ability for employees and Americans to travel for less by joining a vacation club. It is not a time-share or a travel agency, but it can offer vacation deals to its members. It has a program designed for employers to boost productivity and quality of products. Americans who take vacations soon will outlive Europeans, and Vacation Dayz is there to help.

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Doug Donaldson is a member of The Village Connector Community News as well as president of Vacation Dayz. You may reach Doug at (240) 508-3839 or via email at: Doug@helloworld.com. Please find out more about Vacation Dayz by visiting them on the web at: http://vacationdayz.com/