For those of us in the northern hemisphere, school’s out and summer is fully upon us, bringing high temperatures and longer days (and a lobster roll or two here in New England!). This is when many of us plan time away; after all, vacations offer a welcome respite from the daily grind, and given the stressors of the past year, we need them now more than ever. Whether you stay local and just roam (staycation!), road trip across country, or find yourself with two tickets to paradise, you can count on a vacation to deliver more than just sandy beaches.

Time away is so important for the body, mind, and soul. And let’s face it. We all need to escape. This has been an eventful, but challenging time for us all. COVID-19 has been (and still remains in many places) devastating, and new physical and mental health related pandemic concerns suggest that we will be feeling the aftereffects for a very long time.

So what can we do? Take care of ourselves. Take time to recharge. Go on holiday. Not only does time away combat stress, but studies have shown that people who take vacations come back more productive, sleep better, and decrease the risk of burnout.

But yes, to realize the full benefits, you must put the phone, computer, and any other device away, opting to be present with yourself and those around you.

So, if you haven’t scheduled any vacation plans, but have been meaning to do so, now is the time. Soak up the sun! In two weeks, I’ll be joining my daughter at a Virginia Beach softball tournament (talk about hot summer nights!), but then taking a meaningful — and restful — vacation with my family on Martha’s Vineyard in August. It’s truly the only time of the year when we are together without being scheduled every minute of every day. And yes, we feel not only the change in latitude, but the change in attitude.

So my recommendation to all of you: Grab your calendar and plan your break. Sail away. Even if you wait until the end of summer or into the fall, put the time on the calendar. You’ll feel better knowing it’s there. Just do me a favor and don’t blister in the sun.

P.S., Props to those who find all of the titles!