There aren’t many things that beat going on holiday. But how we feel when we return to work can have a huge impact on our performance – and enjoyment – of being back at our desks.
We can all relate to that holiday feeling. Frantically packing the suncream, swimwear and sandals, googling images of the swanky hotel you’ll be staying in and obessively checking your passport and travel insurance the night before your flight (perhaps that’s just me?!). Then there’s that glourious moment of waking up, and realising the day you’ve been waiting for is finally here – and you all pile into the car, arriving at the airport just in time for a cheeky glass of something before you set off through the sunny blue skies.
Planning your trip can seem like a mammoth task, but it’s always an exciting one. Whether you’re returning to an old favourite destination, or looking forward to exploring a new and exotic land, travelling is often one of the greatest experiences we can have.
However, new research from Monograms and Shawn Achor suggests that travelling isn’t always the perfect experience we think it to be.
The Road to Happiness Survey covered 34 items, and surveyed 414 travellers from across the globe. Predominantly examining the link between travel and happiness, the survey took a closer look at the effect of stress and energy levels before, during and after a planned trip.
[box] ‘Not all travel creates happiness,’ says Shawn Achor, positive psychology guru and best selling author. ‘Travel stress can undo the positive effects of travel. Given this fact, there is a very specific formula needed to make the most of a vacation, allowing us to increase our happiness and overall energy.
We know traveling the world can ‘cross train’ your brain to help you see more possibilities in life. And based on this new research, we have also found that travel can make people happier, healthier and more productive when they return from a vacation.’ [/box]
To avoid the post holiday blues that many of us suffer from following a trip, Achor claims that there are four simple rules to ensure travellers return with a ‘post vacation glow.’ Of those surveyed, a whopping 97% claimed that they were exceptionally happy when they followed these rules during their vacation:
1. Ditch stress
The contributors to the research reported that stress played a huge role in determining a good or bad holiday. Specifically, those surveyed listed the following as the biggest stresses during a trip:
– Wasting time figuring things out
– Being unfamiliar with the destination
– Managing transport / Getting around
The research states that taking measures to minimise the stress surrounding these aspects of a trip can have a huge impact on your happiness during your holiday.
2. It’s all in the planning
‘The research revealed that the best – and happiest – vacations for 90% of people were those planned more than one month in advance,’ says Achor. ‘Planning ahead reduces stress and increases the opportunity to anticipate the getaway. And anticipation offers a great happiness advantage.’
3. Think local
‘When you meet-up with a local guide or someone you know, you are better able to connect with the destination,’ says Achor. ‘And creating a connection with people and places, cultures and histories, allows us to open our minds and increase our chances of experiencing happiness.’
When remembering their favourite trips, 78% said they’d embraced local customs, knew a friend or family member in the area, or had taken guided tours.
4. Travel far & wide
‘Staycations just don’t bring the same happiness and meaning that travel does,’ says Achor.
94% reported that they found more meaning & happiness when submerged in a different culture, as opposed to staying in familiar surroundings.
According to the research, travellers who adopt the suggested rules experience more energy & less tress before, during & after their trip. 93% stated that they felt more energetic when they returned to work following their holiday, and swapped their post-holiday blues for a post-vacation glow. 71% reported that they returned to work feeling less energetic and more stressed following a bad or stressful trip.
‘Traveling the world can be an amazing – and even better – a happy experience,’ says Achor. ‘It should be. You just have to travel the right way.’
Are you jetting off on holiday this Summer? Would you consider taking these rules on board to return to work feeling happier? If so, we’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.
Resources
Download the full Road to Happiness Report here.
