What is that feeling of euphoria that overwhelms us when we book a vacation? Why does our heart race at the thought of visiting a place far from home? And why do we never get tired of having new experiences on a trip, getting to know cultures and people different from us? In short, why does traveling make us happy?
Science comes to our aid with studies showing that wanderlust, the desire to travel often considered a real syndrome, is real and should actually be encouraged. Let’s find out why!
The Cornell University Study Conducted by Thomas Gilovich
Travelers, both occasional and seasoned, have always known that the joy of traveling is something unique and priceless. Scientists, however, wanted to get to the deeper causes that trigger this kind of happiness and found the key.
In 2019, psychology professor Thomas Gilovich published the study “A Wonderful Life: Experiential Consumption and the Pursuit of Happiness,” the result of extensive research conducted on 17,000 people from 17 different countries around the world.
The result of this research leaves no doubt. For 70% of respondents, spending money on experiences such as travel is clearly more rewarding than buying any other kind of object..
Shopping, that is, buying material goods like a piece of clothing or even a car, satisfies a need at the moment of purchase, but it is a short-lived happiness destined to fade quickly.
A trip, on the other hand, makes you happy from the moment you start planning it and book it. A joy that lasts during the trip itself and even after, for the rest of your life. These experiences cement in our minds emotions, memories, and scenes that will always make us happy and proud just at the thought.
Dr. Gilovich and his team identified some reasons to explain the causes and effects of this happiness.
A Trip Is Better Than an Object
The research from Cornell University showed how consumerism often makes us briefly happy only to leave us frustrated. This is due to a purchasing habit that satisfies only at the moment money is spent on things we quickly get used to.
The satisfaction gained from buying something nice and useful fades the moment that thing loses its “novelty” that initially attracted us and made us happy.
Money spent on travel, however, never feels wasted because it creates beautiful memories, intangible yes, but that no one and nothing can steal or ruin.
Travel as an Antidote to Stress
How many times have you said or heard “I really need a vacation”? Once again, science confirms this is not just a cliché. Travel has a very important beneficial effect on our body and mind .
Travel helps us take a break from daily problems that plague us when we’re at home and return more energized and serene. Going on vacation significantly reduces stress, anxiety, and depression, like a kind of active therapy.
Travel Makes Us Better People
Every trip is a great test that helps us grow and leaves us with important life lessons. Traveling makes us better people because it broadens our knowledge of the world and our personal culture .
Every trip is a window onto new people, lifestyles, and habits that opens our eyes and especially our minds. These experiences take us outside ourselves and make us more empathetic toward other cultures, peoples, and even nature itself. All these things help us live better, know ourselves more deeply, and be aware and therefore
more inclined to follow our happiness and leave behind those who and what make us anxious and sad. Travel Improves Quality of Life
As a consequence of what we’ve just said, travel generally improves our quality of life. Those who travel have a
more creative mind and are more inclined to see things differently. Traveling, especially alone or with people you don’t know, develops
problem-solving skills , organizational abilities, and makes us more flexible in facing daily challenges.Being in a country different from our own, for example, forces us to make choices and step out of our comfort zone to overcome obstacles or solve unexpected problems. All this shows us that we can handle certain situations well and is why
Being in a country different from our own, for example, forces us to make choices and step out of our comfort zone to overcome obstacles or solve unexpected problems. All this shows us that we are capable of handling certain situations well, and that is why ..
It Expands Your Circle of Acquaintances and Friendships
A trip, unlike material goods, is something you buy that affects social relationships. Medicine always emphasizes the importance of interaction to prevent illnesses like depression or dementia.
Traveling is undoubtedly one of the most effective ways to meet new friends. Indeed, these are experiences best appreciated when shared with the most important people in our lives, but also with those we meet along the way.
Joining a group trip is, for example, a great way to meet friends with whom to build lasting and meaningful bonds. Moreover, these vacations help even the shyest to come out of their shell and chat with all participants in a safe environment.
These were the reasons why traveling makes us happy. If all this talk of departures and happiness has made you want to grab your backpack and set off on an adventure, discover which of the events that Meeters has planned suit you best!
Why Does Booking a Vacation Fill Us With Euphoria?
Booking a vacation induces a feeling of happiness because it marks the start of an exciting experience that allows us to break away from daily routine and explore new places.
What’s the Reason Behind the Excitement of Thinking About Visiting a Place Far From Home?
The prospect of visiting a distant place stimulates curiosity and enthusiasm, offering the chance to immerse ourselves in a different culture and environment, thus enriching our life experience.
Why Does Traveling Never Tire Us, Despite the Different Experiences?
Travel offers continuous stimuli and opportunities for personal growth, allowing us to discover new ways of living and seeing the world, which helps keep our motivation and satisfaction high.
What Is the Link Between Traveling and Happiness, According to Science?
Various studies, including the one conducted by Cornell University, show that investing in experiences like travel leads to longer-lasting happiness compared to buying material goods, as memories and emotions linked to travel tend to persist over time.
How Can Travel Improve Quality of Life?
Travel offers opportunities for personal growth, reduces stress, increases creativity and self-esteem, facilitates forming new friendships, and broadens our perspectives, all contributing to an overall better quality of life.