Today,
Norm Goldman, Editor of sketchandtravel.com and bookpleasures.com is excited to have as our guest Dr. Mel Borins.
Dr. Borins is a physician and motivational speaker from Toronto, Canada who is a very strong proponent of the health benefits of taking vacations.
Dr. Borins has authored Go Away Just For The Health of It and he is here today to discuss his book and why vacations are good for us.
Good day Dr. Borins and that you for agreeing to participate in our interview.
Norm:
Dr. Borins, when did your passion for travel begin? What keeps you going?
Dr. Borins:
When I was in grade three, I drove down to Florida with my parents.
I loved the scenery, the new experiences and the chance to be with my parents 24/7.
After my internship, my wife and I traveled for 14 months around the world. It was amazing to see the different cultures and how people lived. I was inspired and have been traveling ever since. Every trip is a new adventure and a break from the treadmill of daily life.Norm:
How did you get the inspiration for Go Away Just For The Health of It? What challenges or obstacles did you encounter while writing your book? How did you overcome these challenges?
Dr. Borins:
Since my graduation from medical school I met many patients whose lives were changed irrevocably by time off. I witnessed tremendous improvements in their physical and emotional health after they came back from vacation.
The more I enquired about their travels, the more I became aware of the many positive transformations taking place. I could also often tell if a medical problem was of a serious organic nature because it would not usually disappear while someone was on vacation. If a problem did disappear when someone was away, the illness was likely stress related, and being away was enough to either eliminate or sufficiently diminish the stresses and relieve the symptoms. I always felt transformed by my vacations.
I rewrote the book many times. The biggest challenge was finding a publisher. I just persevered. I believed in the book and thought that someday the concept of the importance of leisure time will be appreciated. I kept sending the book out and finally Eastendbooks was interested in it. I was single-minded, persistent and did not give up.
Norm:
Why do you believe vacations are good for us and that they can be transformational for us?
Dr. Borins:
One research study has shown homemakers who reported that they had a vacation once every six years or less had almost twice the risk of developing heart attacks as homemakers who took vacations two or more times per year. Another study found that compared to men who never took vacations, men going on annual vacations were 21% less likely to die over the next nine years and 32% less likely to die of coronary heart disease.
Other studies found a positive relationship between vacations and intellectual
functioning, an increase in life satisfaction after a vacation; vacations were strongly beneficial to family life; burnout of employees decreased significantly during their vacations while work efficiency had increased and jobs were more interesting after their vacations. I have met many people whose lives were transformed by a vacation.
Norm:
Of all of the places you have visited with your family, could you name and briefly describe 4 that you would recommend as being the most romantic?
Dr. Borins:
I find sunsets, beaches, and hot climates romantic
- Bali Indonesia
Smiling friendly people, incredible beaches, sunsets, rice patties. Love is in the air.
- Hawaii
Sunsets, scenery, beaches and slower pace of life.
- Seychelles
Quiet, island life, isolated, scenic
- Moorea, Tahiti
Beauty, snorkeling, beaches and quiet.
Norm:
From my own experience, whenever I take a vacation, I begin to come down with the blues on the last two or threes days, as I realize I have to return home. How do you combat these feelings?
Dr. Borins:
The last chapter in my book describes How to Avoid Depression When You Return.
Here are a few pointers from my book Go Away Just for the Health of It
Schedule some activity before you go on vacation for the first week of your return. This activity must be something you love to do like walking in the park, going to a sports game, having a massage, or meeting with a supportive friend. In this way you have something to look forward to during your first week back.
Develop your photos soon after returning and put them in a book and start showing them to your friends and family. In this way you remember your holiday and the good feelings return.
Make arrangements to be with other travellers who understand what it is like to return after a vacation. Ask them to support you when you get into the doldrums.
Even though you may feel obliged, don’t overwork when you first get back. Pace yourself. Most things can be done over time. There are very few emergencies. Say no to new demands without feeling guilty.
The best time to begin dreaming your next vacation is while you are on vacation. Choose a date and place in your mind. Write it down and go over the steps that are necessary to make the arrangements needed to ensure you will go away again. Fantasizing about your next time off gives you something to look forward to.