Vacations may have been considered a luxury years ago, but in today's hectic world, they may be necessary for our health. Between work demands, raising children, family obligations, commuting on busy highways, sleep deprivation and hurried meals, most of us really need a break.

Unfortunately, many people don't take a vacation when they need one. Even though taking time off work can be stressful and seem costly in the short run, research is showing that it can be very important for our emotional and physical well-being. Regular vacations reduce stress and job burnout. Stress begins rebuilding relatively soon after returning from vacation, so several vacations a year at regularly spaced intervals are recommended. It is better to take vacations and return refreshed and reinvigorated than to slug it out under the mistaken belief that you are accomplishing more by not taking a break.

It is believed that the health benefits from vacation are based in the body's innate relaxation response. When the body relaxes, amazing things can happen. By relaxing regularly we can improve our health and ultimately our overall quality of life. Vacations have an independent health-protective effect. Vacationing involves more than the practical benefits of good health. Travel outside of familiar territory also can be a tremendous learning experience for both children and adults. Travel changes us for the better. It can help widen our perspective on the world and help us to develop healthy philosophies for living. Traveling allows us to go outside of ourselves and increase our understanding of how others live, whether in another region of our own country or in an entirely different culture.

Vacations do not need to be expensive or elaborate. There are many relatively inexpensive activities and places to visit. It doesn't really matter what you do , as long as you try to meet the two basic criteria of a vacation: leave familiar territory for a significant period of time and do something different. Vacations are about setting aside worries and obligations, and having some fun playing again. This not only rejuvenates the soul, but it also stimulates creativity, abstract thinking and ingenuity. It also helps us to look at the world a little differently.

By Scott E. Smith a licensed clinical psychologist with Spectrum Behavioral Health in Annapolis and Arnold .