Leisure travel may seem like a luxury but numerous studies indicate that going on holiday can improve wellbeing—and taking care of yourself is an absolute must! “Tourism isn’t just about leisure and recreation; it could also contribute to people’s physical and mental health,” says Fangli Hu, a Ph.D. candidate at Edith Cowan University in Joondalup, Australia, who led recent research that applied the theory of entropy to tourism.

NextTribe takes small groups of women ages 45+ on incredibly fun, immersive trips all around the globe! Learn where we’re going next here, and join us!

Can you think of a more pleasurable way to practice self-care—from reaping anti-aging and weight loss benefits to reducing your risk for cardiac disease, dementia, and depression? Read on for the six main ways travel can enhance your health—then, get outta here! 

1. Slow the Aging Process

The positive experiences associated with travel may help stave off premature aging, according to Hu’s research, which was published in Science Daily and reported in Newsweek. Leisure travel exposes us to novel surroundings, involves physical activity and social interaction, fosters positive emotions, and relieves tension—all of which may help the body sustain a low-entropy state. This may reduce over-activation of the immune system and encourage the body’s self-defense mechanisms to function properly. “Aging, as a process, is irreversible. While it can’t be stopped, it can be slowed down,” says Hu, explaining that when the self-defense system becomes more resilient, “hormones conducive to tissue repair and regeneration may be released and promote self-healing.”

2. Improve Heart Health

Some 60 million American women (44 percent of us) are living with some form of heart disease—the leading cause of death for women in this country. According to a joint study from the Global Commission on Aging and Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, in partnership with the U.S. Travel Association, people who take yearly vacations are less likely to develop heart disease and less likely to die from a heart attack. More specifically, the ongoing Framingham Heart Study found that women who vacation twice a year or more show a significantly lower risk of suffering a heart attack than those who travel for pleasure only about every six years. (Men who eschew an annual vacation show a 20 percent higher risk of death and 30 percent greater risk of heart disease.)

And get this: Research published in Psychology & Health proved that simply planning and anticipating a getaway can boost cardiac condition by lowering your ambulatory heart rate. 

Women who vacation twice a year or more have significantly lower risk of suffering a heart attack than those who travel for pleasure only once every six year.

3. Defer Depression

The Mayo Clinic notes that women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression, and the risk of depression may increase for those dealing with perimenopause, early menopause, or post-menopause, periods when estrogen levels fluctuate and then diminish. Luckily, various studies show that leisure travel may reduce the odds of developing depression.

The Global Coalition on Aging, for one, found that 93 percent of American adults simply feel happier during and after a pleasure trip. And Wisconsin’s Marshfield Clinic discovered that women who travel for pleasure at least twice a year are less likely to suffer from depression than those who vacation less than once every two years. Talk about packing up your troubles!

Read more: Middle-Aged Girlfriends Are Good for Your Health!

4. Decrease Dementia Risk

Some 55 million people worldwide suffer from dementia, the neurological condition of cognitive decline marked by confusion, memory loss, and mood swings among other symptoms. And according to the World Health Organization, women are disproportionately affected by the condition, as we not only experience higher disability-adjusted life years and mortality due to dementia, we also provide 70 percent of care hours for those living with dementia.

Fortunately, tourism and its associated physical activity stimulate brain function, which is a key component of dementia intervention programs. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine found mild cognitive impairment to be less in older adults who experience active leisure travel regularly, as compared to those who rarely take vacations, determining that travel may reduce the risk for dementia onset.  

Cognitive impairment was found to be less in older adults who take active vacations regularly, indicating that travel may reduce dementia risks.

In fact, “dementia tourism” is on the rise globally, National Geographic reports. Popping up around the world are uniquely tailored museum exhibits, memory cafes (where folks with cognitive decline can socialize), and hiking trails where those with dementia can safely commune with nature. According to Warren Harding, a professor in dementia care at Australia’s Macquarie University: “Tourism offers a promising adjunct to non-pharmacological interventions. It is not a treatment, but it can provide significant emotional and social benefits.”  

5. Help with Weight Loss

The Office on Women’s Health (a division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services) reports that more than two in three American women are overweight or obese—a sad statistic that may make you want to get away from it all. While there hasn’t been a lot of scientific focus on tourism and weight loss, research published in Psychosomatic Medicine that considered four separate travel studies found that participants who engaged in leisure activities on vacation wound up with a lower body mass index (BMI) and a smaller waist circumference.

The participants also had lowered levels of the hormone cortisol, elevated levels of which can cause weight gain. Of course, the study respondents (part of the Pittsburgh Enjoyable Activities Test) performed a variety of fun physical activities while away; those who use a holiday as an excuse to overindulge on wining and dining without ample walking, swimming, cycling, or the like might not reap the same rewards. 

6. Slash Stress Levels

Stress is a contributing factor to all the conditions mentioned above, among many others. Yet travel has proven to be a wonderful way to relieve stress—and keep it at bay. A whopping 89 percent of respondents to a study by the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies and the U.S. Travel Association claimed that they felt stress levels plummet and happiness soar after only a day or two on vacation.

No surprise: Stress levels plummet and happiness soards after just a day or two on vacation. Maybe it’s time to start booking that next trip.

The better news is that the mood-boosting, anxiety-reducing benefits of travel can really last. Research published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health showed that travelers claimed to feel happier, less tense, and better rested up to five weeks after a pleasure trip.

So if you need incentive to book your next jaunt, consider it doctor’s orders!