One of the holy grails of modern psychology is figuring out what makes people happy. The thinking goes, “If we know what makes people happy, people can then do more of that thing and increase happiness in their own lives.” Makes sense.
We’ve noted previously how an experience — such as a vacation or going out to dinner — is more likely to increase happiness than buying a material gift. The reasoning behind this is that experiences create (hopefully fond) memories, which can be later recalled and enjoyed again. While you may also enjoy a gift, it just doesn’t seem to have the same impact that an experience does.
But research published last week demonstrates that this finding be more complicated than we originally thought.
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Interesting perspective. It’s almost the same concept as saying that the reward is not so rewarding after it has been received. We chase some prize, but the journey is ultimately more rewarding. Planning vacations can be a lot of fun, because you’re looking forward to all the great things you will be doing.
I like the advice to actually be on vacation while you’re on vacation. Even in our daily lives, it’s hard to let mental stresses go when you’re supposed to be relaxing. How miserable it must be to spend a whole vacation that way.
Ironic that you wrote this while I was on vacation. I found that while I was on vacation, I was happy. And when I came back from vacation, I was not happy.
I completely agree about the camera, but would suggest leave it in the hotel most days, rather than leave it at home.
I’d like to think travel has values other than making people happy e.g., getting a sense there may be other ways of doing things, combating provincialism.
There is an obvious correalation between travel & affluence. Maybe, perhaps, travel helps you to to be more affluent; broadening horizons, providing more conceptual options when thinking.(Of course affluence, like happiness, is not exactly beyond question as a value).
Having said that I think travel should only be the icing on the cake. For me modest joys like the dog, the garden, local nature, family, friends, the experience of my modest city is where it’s at 99% of the time.
There is something terribly wrong if so many people seem to hate their job as much as this article suggests, if they didn’t choose to travel so much they might not have to spend so much time working to get the money for travel( to forget about work)