Feeling a little stressed lately? You’re not alone. We all know that Covid-19 has changed our world, and with change comes stress. What with lock-downs, the battle over mask-wearing, closure of schools, lack of socializing, not to mention lay-offs and job loss, it’s no surprise stress levels are going through the roof. Even during “normal times” 53% of adults report worry and stress negatively affect their mental health, so we can only imagine the damage caused by the current situation. However, there is something we can do to lower stress levels and raise our levels of happiness even in these chaotic times.
Plan a vacation.
Now that advice might seem counter-intuitive, especially if you are facing financial hardship due to the pandemic. Why would you even consider planning a vacation when you’re not sure you’ll even be able to pay the rent when unemployment runs out? It’s simple, really. The key here is to plan the vacation, not necessarily take one.
It’s safe to say we all love vacations and time off. That time off–vacating our normal routines–has numerous benefits to our mental and physical health. But here’s the thing. Research shows that planning a vacation actually has a higher impact on our mental health than the act of taking that vacation. A 2014 Cornell University study showed the happiness derived from anticipation of an experiential purchase, such as a vacation, was greater than that of a physical purchase. In other words, planning the vacation had a greater positive mental impact than the vacation itself.
There is also research which shows the planning and anticipation of a vacation causes greater happiness than the trip, unless that trip is unusually stress-free. I don’t know about you, but there is always some amount of stress in my vacations, no matter how hard I try to avoid it. Missed flight connections, bad hotels, trying to figure out where to eat–all these things can reduce the overall benefit of a vacation. That is why there is a bigger boost in pre-trip happiness rather than post-trip happiness. In fact, there is very little evidence to suggest much of a lasting post-trip benefit at all. Again, this isn’t surprising. How many times have you returned to work after a vacation to find the entire trip a distant memory after only a couple of hours into your workday?
If you want to lower your stress levels, take some time to plan that vacation. Treat it as an opportunity to create a dream trip. Where would you go if finances were not an issue? Perhaps a European tour? Or a sojourn to Angkor Wat in Cambodia? Maybe touring the national parks in the United States is more your thing. Whatever a dream vacation looks like to you, now is the time to plan it.
Spend some time researching destinations. Look at attractions and things to do once you get to your destination. Maybe historic buildings are your thing. Perhaps browsing the stalls in a German Christmas festival is your idea of a dream vacation. Choose your lodging, your means of travel, the whole bit. Get inspiration from the internet, from Pinterest, or even magazines. A friend of mine used to create vacation books throughout the year. He kept a notebook and would cut out articles about places he wanted to visit or events he wanted to experience. That notebook became the inspiration for his annual vacations. He might break up the ideas into different trips, but the notebook gave him a place to keep all those possibilities together. It also served another purpose. When he needed a boost, he would pull out the notebook and browse all the places he planned to go some day. He said it was always an instant mood lifter.
Here’s another tip. Plan your vacation during the day. Fit it into your normal workday or job search if you are currently unemployed. Why? Because most Americans normally plan their vacations during the work hours. In fact, 69% of Americans report planning vacations at work. You may see this as non-productive, but it actually boosts motivation and creativity for other tasks and responsibilities. Remember, anticipation of the travel experience boosts happiness which has a direct effect on other aspects of our lives. And if we are going to be honest, I would say most of us have done this in the past. If that’s the case, and we are trying to make the current situation feel as normal as possible, it makes sense to replicate these familiar behaviors during crazy times.
There is no question taking a vacation has a positive impact on our well-being. However, if we can’t always take that trip we can still plan for it. And just because we may not be able to take that dream vacation right now, it doesn’t mean we won’t be able to do so in the future. Anticipating the time when we can finally make that dream a reality just may extend the happiness we all feel during the planning stages of a vacation while allowing us to lower stress and boost creativity.
Chris Griffin is an executive coach with over twenty-five years’ experience in corporate senior management. With an understanding of the corporate mindset, business owners’ trials, and human psychology, Chris helps his clients navigate and leverage change within the different stages of their lives and careers. He holds a master’s degree in organizational psychology and certifications in both wellness coaching and workplace wellness.