Social Scientists Reveal 5 Ways to Boost Vacation Joy, From 1,500-Person Anticipation Gains
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 24
Social Scientists Reveal 5 Ways to Boost Vacation Joy, From 1,500-Person Anticipation Gains
2 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 24
Summary
Five research-backed habits topped the advice: build anticipation, stay closer to home, seek awe and novelty, keep moving, and put your smartphone away; packing light was added as a practical bonus.
More than 1,500 people in a 2010 Netherlands study reported higher happiness when they were anticipating a vacation, while a separate survey of nearly 500 tourists found moods were lowest on transit-heavy days.
Close-to-home trips can preserve the social payoff of time together while cutting travel stress, costs and carbon footprint; Dunn said even a weekend rental 20 minutes away delivered a strong break-from-routine effect.
Awe and activity were framed as memory-builders and mood boosters: Keltner linked wonder to lower stress, and Santos said people often choose too little challenge even though exercise reliably improves well-being.
Smartphone use can blunt those gains—restaurant diners assigned to keep phones out felt more distracted, more bored and enjoyed the experience less than those who put devices away.