____ Experts say that having a vacation is as important as eating well and getting regular exercise. Our brains and bodies actually need time when we aren’t working or studying. Adolescents, with their busy schedules of school, homework, and after-school clubs need a break just as much as adult workers do. ____ Eighty percent of workers and eighty-two percent of college students feel stressed. Fifty-seven percent of workers take time off from work because of stress. Young adults are the most likely group to suffer from stress. ____ Vacations are good for our brains which get tired like our bodies. Research shows that they help us to relax and this develops our brain power, improving our memory and ability to learn new skills. When we aren’t working, our brain connects new ideas with the old ideas we have stored in our memories. This leads to new conclusions and helps us to solve problems. So, a break can help us to do better at school and work. ____ Stress from studying all the time or long working days can be bad for our hearts. Doctors say that people who take regular breaks from work are 21% less likely to develop a serious illness. So, if you go away every year, it will probably help you to live longer! ____ Taking vacations helps to make us feel happier in our day-to-day lives. They also help to improve sleep. University studies show that people sleep, on average, one hour longer after they come home from being away. Some psychologists also say that when we go on vacation, we come home feeling more motivated to work towards our goals. ____ As a busy medical student, Ana had to work long hours and often through the night. Sometimes she didn’t sleep for 24 hours. “I was always tired but I still had problems sleeping. I used to lie in bed thinking about all of the things I had to do the next day. When I woke up, I always had a bad headache. I didn’t have any energy and I felt sad most of the time. I knew something had to change before I ended up sick myself, so I saved all of my money and booked a vacation in Turkey! When I returned, I was like a completely different person!” ____ The good news is that you don’t need to pack up and travel far or spend weeks away to feel the benefits of a vacation. Find the time to take a break from work or school. Spend your time relaxing, doing fun activities, and exploring where you live. Soon, you’ll start to feel better – and your work or studies will start to improve, too!

READING: VACATIONS

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