Stress Reduction

For many, travel is that “exhale” moment that they need. While the process of getting to a destination can increase stress levels, many people feel the stress melting away once they arrive at their destination and begin to relax. Travel can prevent burnout, increase your motivation, leave you feeling energized, and improve your perception of your overall quality of life.¹

The best news is that the resulting stress relief can last. A German study found that the effects of even a short vacation can last for up to 45 days, providing a “halo” effect that might even be able to carry you through to your next vacation.²

Creativity

Research has also found that people who take regular vacations report feeling more creative. Studies provide evidence that people who are exposed to different cultures find that viewing the world through a new lens provides an outside perspective that ultimately boosts their creativity.³

Happiness

No surprise here: Travel makes most people happy. Many people anecdotally equate travel with some of the happiest moments of their lives–whether it’s a honeymoon, a family road trip, or a bucket-list trip–and studies have confirmed that connection. In fact, according to a Cornell University study, the mere act of anticipating travel can increase a person’s happiness.⁴ 

Improve Brain Health

Often when we travel, we tend to be more sociable and take part in activities that exercise our brains. You may be traveling with friends or family or could even be meeting new people along the way. On your trip you may be learning a words or phrases in a new language, learning about a different culture, or reading a book on the beach. The research is clear— mental stimulation and social interaction are good for our brain health and may even help protect us against dementia.⁶

Encouraging Physical Activity

We’re generally more active on vacation than we are at home. Whether you’re skiing, walking beaches, sightseeing, even just heading to the pool, check your step counter. If you spend a week in Italy heading up and down Italian hills by foot, that improved physical fitness can make you feel better and become more health-conscious.

Here’s one last positive: Remembering to insure your trip with Travel insurance provides peace of mind, which is a first step toward improved well-being.

¹Data shows that vacations can cause stress. Philomath News. philomathnews.com/data-shows-that-vacations-can-cause-stress/, August 31, 2024.

²Blank, Cornelia et al. “Short Vacation Improves Stress-Level and Well-Being in German-Speaking Middle-Managers-A Randomized Controlled Trial.” International journal of environmental research and public health vol. 15,1 130. 13 Jan. 2018.

³Leung AK, Maddux WW, Galinsky AD, Chiu CY. Multicultural experience enhances creativity: the when and how. Am Psychol. 2008;63(3):169-181.

⁴Kumar A, Killingsworth MA, & Gilovich T.. Waiting for Merlot: Anticipatory Consumption of Experiential and Material Purchases. Psychological Science, 2014;25(10), 1924-1931.

⁵People who travel are happier than people who don’t. Spa Executive. spaexecutive.com/2024/05/16/people-who-travel-are-happier-than-those-who-dont/, May 16, 2024.

⁶Wang HX, Karp A, Winblad B, Fratiglioni L. Late-life engagement in social and leisure activities is associated with a decreased risk of dementia: a longitudinal study from the Kungsholmen project. Am J Epidemiol. 2002;155(12):1081-1087.