MSGID: 1:317/3 6438d6e4   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    Time out: We all need a three-day weekend    
      
     Date:   
         April 13, 2023   
     Source:   
         University of South Australia   
     Summary:   
         As a four-day work week is trialed in countries across the globe,   
         health researchers say they're 'all in' when it comes to a long   
         weekend, especially as new empirical research shows that the extra   
         time off is good for our health.   
      
      
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   FULL STORY   
   ==========================================================================   
   As a four-day work week is trialled in countries across the globe,   
   health researchers at the University of South Australia say they're   
   'all in' when it comes to a long weekend, especially as new empirical   
   research shows that the extra time off is good for our health.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Assessing changes in daily movements before, during and after holidays,   
   researchers found that people displayed more active, healthy behaviours   
   when they were on holiday, even when they only had a three-day break.   
      
   Across the 13-month study period, people generally took an average two to   
   three holidays, each being around 12 days. The most common holiday type   
   was 'outdoor recreation' (35 per cent), followed by 'family/social events'   
   (31 per cent), 'rest and relaxation' (17 per cent) and 'non-leisure   
   pursuits' such as caring for others or home renovations (17 per cent).   
      
   Specifically, it showed that on holiday people:   
       * engaged in 13 per cent more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity   
       (MVPA)   
         each day (or five min/day more)   
       * were five per cent less sedentary each day (or 29 min/day less)   
       * slept four per cent more each day (or 21 min/day more).   
      
   UniSA researcher Dr Ty Ferguson says that the research indicates that   
   people display healthier behaviours when they are on holiday.   
      
   "When people go on holiday, they're changing their everyday   
   responsibilities because they're not locked down to their normal   
   schedule," Dr Ferguson says.   
      
   "In this study, we found that movement patterns changed for the better   
   when on holiday, with increased physical activity and decreased sedentary   
   behaviour observed across the board.   
      
   "We also found that people gained an extra 21 minutes of sleep each   
   day they were on holiday, which can have a range of positive effects on   
   our physical and mental health. For example, getting enough sleep can   
   help improve our mood, cognitive function, and productivity. It can   
   also help lower our risk of developing a range of health conditions,   
   such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and depression.   
      
   "Interestingly, the size of these changes increased in line with the   
   length of the holiday -- so the longer the holiday, the better the   
   health benefits."  The study used data from the Annual rhythms in adults'   
   lifestyle and health (ARIA)study where 308 adults (mean age 40.4 years)   
   wore fitness trackers 24 hours a day for 13 months. Minute-by-minute   
   movement behaviour data were aggregated into daily totals to compare   
   movement behaviours pre-holiday, during holiday and post-holiday.   
      
   Senior researcher UniSA's Prof Carol Maher says that the study offers   
   support for the growing movement for a four-day week.   
      
   "A shorter working week is being trialled by companies all over the   
   world. Not surprisingly, employees reported less stress, burnout, fatigue,   
   as well as better mental health and improved work-life balance," Prof   
   Maher says.   
      
   "This study provides empirical evidence that people have healthier   
   lifestyle patterns when they have a short break, such as a three-day   
   weekend. This increase in physical activity and sleep is expected to   
   have positive effects on both mental and physical health, contributing   
   to the benefits observed with a four-day work week.   
      
   "Importantly, our study also showed that even after a short holiday,   
   people's increased sleep remained elevated for two weeks, showing that   
   the health benefits of a three-day break can have lasting effects beyond   
   the holiday itself.   
      
   "As the world adapts to a new normal, perhaps it's time to embrace the   
   long weekend as a way to boost our physical and mental health."   
       * RELATED_TOPICS   
             o Health_&_Medicine   
                   # Fitness # Mental_Health_Research # Workplace_Health #   
                   Chronic_Illness   
             o Mind_&_Brain   
                   # Child_Development # Mental_Health # Depression #   
                   Disorders_and_Syndromes   
       * RELATED_TERMS   
             o Health_science o Healthy_diet o Public_health o Epidemiology   
             o General_fitness_training o Medicine o UV_index o   
             Vulvovaginal_health   
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_South_Australia. Note:   
   Content may be edited for style and length.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Journal Reference:   
      1. Ty Ferguson, Rachel Curtis, Francois Fraysse, Timothy Olds, Dorothea   
         Dumuid, Wendy Brown, Adrian Esterman, Carol Maher. How do 24-h   
         movement behaviours change during and after vacation? A cohort   
         study.   
      
         International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity,   
         2023; 20 (1) DOI: 10.1186/s12966-023-01416-2   
   ==========================================================================   
      
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/04/230413011820.htm   
      
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