As summer winds down and memories of days spent at the beach or the park begin to fade, you want to hold on to the important physical and mental health benefits you got from your vacation.

Inspiration and creativity come from relaxation. Lin-Manuel Miranda says the idea for the play "Hamilton" came to him while on holiday: "It's no accident that the best idea I've ever had in my life — perhaps maybe the best one I'll ever have in my life — came to me on vacation."

Improvements in heart health and glucose levels as well as reduction in your level of bad LDL cholesterol can come from relaxation. A study published in the journal Epidemiology found that women who took a vacation less than once every six years were 800% more likely to develop heart problems than those who took a break twice a year.

So how can you hold onto your health-promoting vacation feelings?

• Schedule yourself into your schedule. Read a book, exercise, go to a museum, or hang out with friends. Make it a priority.

• Get out into nature. Multiple studies show it improves the well-being of body and soul.

• Keep getting aerobic exercise and daily walks. One study found that people who spend 120 minutes a week or more outdoors are healthier and happier than those who don't.

• Keep memories alive by preparing a favorite vacation meal or playing local music that you heard while away from home.