Science Says Girls’ Trips Are Good for Your Health, and Here’s Why
Filling your Instagram with envy-inducing vacation selfies of you and your closest gal pals living it up may serve as a temporary ego-booster, thanks to all the likes you’re bound to rack up. But there could be more—scientific studies suggest that there’s an even more crucial benefit connected to taking girls’ trips: It’s actually good for your health.
It’s already pretty common knowledge that taking regular breaks from your everyday obligations is a necessary way to recharge on every level, but what are the specific advantages to girls’ trips over an out-of-town adventure with your spouse, your family, or your pets?
While family vacations tend to get a bad rap for being stressful and downright loathsome in some cases, there’s actually some significant scientific research that’ll have you starting a group chat about booking your next friend-filled getaway, stat. As Southern Living points out, research has shown that spending time with friends helps to boost the body’s production of oxytocin, otherwise known as the happy hormone. Plus friendships can help to extend life expectancy, increase pain tolerance and lower chance of heart disease. BFFs FTW, right? Another study that analyzed data from a sample of 309,000 people showed that a lack of strong connections with others can potentially increase the risk of premature death from all causes by 50 percent.
Additionally, Harvard researchers outlined even more benefits of maintaining social connections:
“For example, they’ve found that it [connecting with others] helps relieve harmful levels of stress, which can adversely affect coronary arteries, gut function, insulin regulation, and the immune system. Another line of research suggests that caring behaviors trigger the release of stress-reducing hormones.”
Whether you and your besties plan to jet off to that women-only island in Finland or get wine drunk with your real-life Flossy Posse and party your way through the streets of New Orleans, know that you’ll have the blessing of social scientists, along with the approval of your mind, body, and soul.