Using vacations and other experiences to make yourself happier (according to research)

I’ve run across an article several times in the past few years about how your happiness related to travel is mostly affected by planning a trip not taking the actual trip itself. I feel like this is an important thing to know.
The study abstract says:

“Vacationers reported a higher degree of pre-trip happiness, compared to non-vacationers, possibly because they are anticipating their holiday. Only a very relaxed holiday trip boosts vacationers’ happiness further after return. Generally, there is no difference between vacationers’ and non-vacationers’ post-trip happiness.”

When you think about it, this makes sense. When planning a trip, it’s all about possibilities.  The world is your oyster; the sky the limit. You imagine how wonderful things will be: sitting on a beach with a margarita, seeing Machu Picchu, or visiting Paris.  However, when you actually go on the trip, of course, things go wrong.  The plane is cramped and you end up with a stiff neck for the first two days. The mosquitoes at the beach are vicious, you can’t breathe at Machu Picchu because of the altitude, and it rains and is cold the entire time you are in Paris. The fun-packed week you planned can quickly become stressful, fun things you planned could be closed, or someone could get sick, “ruining” the trip.

Additionally, when you return from vacation, you are back in your regular life, with your ordinary problems, and mundane tasks that take up all your time.  What happiness you’ve found while away is quickly lost.  As you put the now clean laundry away, you’ve already moved on to the next boring segment of your life.

So what can you do?

Luckily, researchers have at least one answer.

Much research has shown that experiences are the key to happiness.  Experiences can give you memories, skills, and empowerment you can take with you everywhere and look back on.  While material things come and go, can get lost, stolen, or burned in a fire.

Here’s another article.  And yet another article here.

Your experiences are part of you. They are what make you you.  They can frequently be topics of good conversations that establish new friendships (which are also an indicator of happiness).  Where you’ve been, what you’ve seen, what you’ve done.  Friendships may develop over a love of attending operas, or snorkeling, or making paper dolls.  That doesn’t generally happen with a brand of shoes, or type of tv.  Experiences draw people together.
Experiences often happen on vacations, but you can chose to add them to  your regular life.  Go out to an axe throwing bar, ascend that climbing wall, try ice skating at the local park, sign up for the art class at the community center,  go to an escape room. Opportunities for experiences are all around you at all price levels. Once an experience starts to seem dull, try something new.

So enjoy your travel planning knowing that things may not go as expected.  Have backup plans and priorities.  And in your plans and your daily life, try to find some time to experience new things on your trips so you can take those memories with you forever.