The science of why travel makes you happier

Travel is the best investment you can make in your happiness. Learn how to make it count.

There's a reason that the moment you book a trip, something shifts. You feel lighter. You find yourself daydreaming about your trip. Where you're going to go. What you're going to do. There's an excitement that wasn't there prior to getting that trip confirmation.

You can thank neuroscience.

A 20-year longitudinal study out of Cornell, led by Dr. Thomas Gilovich, followed thousands of people to compare how satisfied they felt after material purchases versus experiences.

The result? People who spent their money on experiences reported higher levels of happiness immediatelyandyears later. Whereas when it came to those material purchases like a new TV or the latest phone model, that high drops off quickly.

I'm not suggesting if you're unhappy to go book a trip ... but I'm also not not suggesting that.

As someone who always says I want experiences versus items, and someone who has traveled pretty extensively, I can share that this all tracks.

So, if you need an excuse to book travel, here you go:travel is one of the most measurable investments you can make in your own well-being.

Sounds good, yeah? Except there's a rub.

Not all travel delivers the same return

A separate study by Dr. Ryan Howell at San Francisco State University found that travel produces more happiness when the experience is aligned with your personal values and deepest interests.

Simply, the trip itself isn't what's making you happier. It's the alignment.

Maybe you've felt it before with generic travel feeling kind of flat? And something you're passionate about lit you up on your trip?

That's your nervous system knowing the difference between going through the motions of a vacation and living aligned with who you are.

I know I've felt it. I used to use the term "churched out" to describe my first solo trip to Europe when I graduated college. I was going through the motions, doing what I thought I was supposed to do.

And I didn't enjoy it.

But, put me in a city where I can eat all the vegan food, or on a safari in South Africa, and I lit up like a Christmas tree and am joyous.

See the difference?

For my clients who are vegan travelers, conscious consumers, ethical safari-goers, honeymooners who don't want to compromise their values and still want an incredible trip - this is what I want for you!

There's something to be said about experiencing a destination through your own aligned lens and being able to still be a part of local culture, enjoy local cuisine, support local businesses and stay in a property that is sustainable.

The trip feels different. It feels right. You return home feeling good, fulfilled, like that trip was quite possibly the best trip of your life because you did everything you wanted to do and didn't sacrifice who you were to do it.

The happiness starts before you ever board the plane

The beautiful think about travel is that you feel its benefits long before you actually depart.

Dr. Jeroen Nawijn at the University of Breda tracked travelers for eight weeks — four before their trip and four after. He found that happiness rose progressively in the weeks leading up to the trip, peaked during the experience, and stayed elevated for weeks afterward.

A study from the Institute for Applied Positive Research found that 97 percent of respondents said simply having a trip planned made them happier.

Stephanie Harrison, founder of The New Happy, calls this "anticipatory savoring" — a kind of time travel where projecting yourself into a future positive experience lifts your mood in the moment.

I know the instant I click CONFIRM on a booking, my entire being feels tingly and happy.

Which means the moment you start planning, your mood shifts and the benefits of travel start to impact you. You don't have to wait until you're sipping wine in Cape Town or watching the Great Migration.

Our glorious brains begin releasing dopamine the second the trip becomes real.

How to make your travel investment count

If travel is one of the best things you can put your money into, the question becomes: how do you make sure you're getting the full return? AKA, what's the ROI?

There are a handful of ways I make sure a travel investment will deliver:

Build the trip around what matters to you, not what's trending on social media.A bespoke itinerary rooted in your values is greater than any "top 10" list.

If you're a foodie, the trip should be a love letter to eating. If you're an animal lover, your trip should be focused on observation and conservation.

Remember, it's that alignment that brings the happy, so your travel should be aligned with your values and what you want from an experience.

Choose experiences over stuff, every time. I think the Cornell research makes a strong case for investing in once-in-a-lifetime experiences like going on safari, or an expedition to Antarctica, or that sustainable wine and foodie tour through Italy.

These investments will mean more to you in five years than a new piece of clothing ever can.

Give yourself time to anticipate. The eight-week happiness ramp is a fun little discovery!

So, skip booking last-minute because it robs you of half the joy. Aside from being more assured you'll be able to get the hotel you want, the reservations you dream about and the tours that fit, you're also giving yourself a little extra happy in your life.

Work with someone who shares your values. Gratuitous self-promotion warning ahead.Hi, it's me you should be working with because if you're here, chances are I share your values. And, working together means you don't have to spend your time researching what hotels are more sustainable, or have vegan options. You don't have to worry if you're going to be able to find somewhere to eat. Or if a tour operator is greenwashing their experiences or exploiting locals. You simply get to enjoy your trip and know you're not compromising your principles that shape your life.

I'm an award-winning travel curator and know what makes a trip magical. I know the research that needs to be done to ensure everything is above board. Forget you having to research, vet, and plan the logistics -- instead savor that happiness you're feeling longer while I'm handling everything.

Got to love science

Travel makes us happier than things do. Travel aligned with our values makes us even happier than travel for the sake of it. And, travel keeps us happier, longer.

If you've been telling yourself the trip can wait, the research disagrees. You're not just buying a vacation. You're buying anticipatory joy, an entire aligned experience, and a memory that will keep you smiling forever.

Ready to create magic?Let's plan your trip of a lifetime —apply today for an itinerary that's curated, conscious, and completely you.