Summer reset helps manage stress

Nearly half of the American population plans to take a summer break this year by going on vacation. While the other half may opt due to the hefty bills it comes with.

Don’t let an expensive trip discourage you, it’s still important to take time off work.

Psychotherapist, Troy Love from Yuma Counseling Services suggests the number one thing vacation can do for one is relieve stress.

“It can reduce your heart disease, it can help you sleep better, it can help you have better relationships with your families and friends,” Love said.

The number one reason Americans don’t go on vacation is because they’re afraid. Their worried no one can do their job as well as they can or that their might be a lot of work waiting for them once they come back. So this fear behind them leads them to not wanna leave, which increases their stress, which has the opposite effect. Therefore, one is more stressed, less productive at work and unhealthier.

This may also affect ones relationship.

Some of the signs that indicate it’s time to take a break is if your feeling short tempered, unproductive and not excited to go to work.

“Going on vacation and being grateful for the time your away, being grateful for the time your spending with your loved ones or enjoying nature. Those are some easy ways to be able to reduce stress,” Love said.

A trip doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive there are other ways one can still get away from the office without breaking the bank. One specific location lies in our very own backyard that’s the perfect backdrop for travelers looking to improve their spiritual self.

Picacho State Recreation Park lies along the Colorado River on California’s southeastern border. It’s inexpensive yet rich in beauty and history.

State Park Ranger Don Strampfer said, “You have a sense of relaxation when your here, you can’t help it.”

Love also emphasizes being in nature and enjoying it can reset the sense that everything will be okay.

Picacho State Park offers 54 campsites, 3 boat launches, and 4 boat-in camps. It cost only $20 per night and $10 for daytime use. The best times to visit are from mid-October through April. During the summer it can get up to 120 degrees and during the winter as low as in the upper 20’s.

According to the California Department of Parks and Recreation, For thousands of years, the Quechan and other native people of the Great Basin culture lived along this part of the Colorado River. Picacho started as a mining town and was later established as a state park in 1961.

“There’s something for everyone so it’s perfect for families, it’s on the river where if you wanna get involved in any kind of water sports or fishing, it’s just the natural beauty though, out here it’s so relaxing,” Strampfer said.

Strampfer also recommends bringing plenty of water because they don’t have ice out there and also mosquito repellent.

Green or red sticker off-road vehicles are not allowed as well as any weapons or fireworks. These are just a few things to keep in mind while visiting the park.

Overall, getting away from the busyness of a metropolitan city and being in nature helps us reconnect with our roots. Love points out, “It’s a way to help us just feel like all is well in the world.”