The Science Behind the Perfect Vacation

A slight breeze, with your feet buried in millions of little crystals of white sand, eyeing the fading sun. An hour trek down a densely green mountain to reach a thirty feet waterfall. A rooftop party till sunrise on the last floor of a fifty story building. To each and every one of us, the whole concept of vacation seems to have different meanings. To some it’s an action packed adventure, to others it only needs to be a chance to relax. We all truly cherish our vacation, even though some of us tend to procrastinate when it comes to it, and yet it seems that overall, very little research is dedicated to analyze the factors that help us maximize the benefits of such an endearing concept.

How many days should we be spending? Who will we be sharing it with? Where should we go? Can we really afford it? What should we do when we get there? These are all questions which surface when we are planning a vacation. How do we define the factors which would optimize the way we spend our time at leisure? Just by thinking this, it makes us feel that so much time needs to be invested in planning our time to relax and have a good time. Quite a paradox we got going on here. So what exactly helps us take advantage of a vacation to its fullest potential? It can all be answered by paying attention to two important factors: Duration and Intensity.

In general terms, we would tend to believe that a longer vacation is better than a short one, but that usually isn’t quite the case. Studies have shown that an enjoyable experience isn’t remembered later as more pleasurable just because it last longer. Actually, what matters the most is the intensity of sensation. When people look back on a vacation, they look back to how they felt at the most intense moments, combined with the feelings they experienced right after they ended. And this not only applies for vacation, if you look closely, this same idea applies to how you experience other social gatherings as well. Say parties, dinners, weddings, etc…

It’s not really important that you remain as busy as possible all throughout your vacation time, since what most likely will be preserved in your memory will be the high points of it. This, of course, works in both directions and your time off can also be remembered by the low points you experienced. So if, for some reason your camera was stolen or what not, don’t focus on it so much. Rather try focusing on reaching a high point once again to counter its effects.

To sum things up, the whole magic behind what makes a vacation so special is the fact that it has to end. In a study conducted by Leif Nelson from the University of California and Tom Meyvis from the New York Stern School of Business, it was found that when a satisfying experience was interrupted, the feelings it inspired were intensified. Most humans, regardless of where they come from, have an inborn tendency to procrastinate. We tend to take things for granted and therefore do not feel the need to act and go experience the world we have which surrounds us because it always will be there. We mustn’t be conformists. The efforts we invest today will reap equally great benefits in the future. Let it be how we behave in our vacation time or in life in general. The best things in life don’t happen while we are sitting on a couch watching how others live their life. They happen when we finally decide it is time to get out there and actually see the world.

Share your ideas on this topic. Share your last memorable vacations. They will surely enhance the value of the ideas we are wishing to convey in this post.
Pictures via P0RG and devilicious
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