I can’t remember what podcast it was that I heard this point but they mentioned how planning a trip is a mood lifter just in itself!
Just the actions of planning, daydreaming, and looking forward to a day or week away can have a huge impact on our mood.
You would think that the best part is the actual trip but they have shown in studies that the entire process of planning the trip can often bring more joy than even the content of your trip! When I really sat with this, I realized that it really was true. Can you remember the feeling of wrapping up a Friday afternoon at work the day before a vacation??? It’s like being a kid again on the last day of school !
With so many trips canceled over the last 24 months, I think that this whole theory is more relevant than ever! I would imagine that the amount of travel over the next few months will be off the charts! Even for small overnight trips, just getting out of town for a bit does wonders for the soul
Perhaps you can start planning a trip for late spring or summer? Make sure that whatever trip you plan can be canceled at no fee! Most hotels offer that option especially now given the circumstances and how much is still unknown.
Just some of the details that you can start thinking and daydreaming about for your trip are the following:
Places you might want to go out to eat while away. Yelp has NEVER steered us wrong! You can start jumping on that app daily and start drooling over all the amazing food you will eat!
It’s a great time to get in the best shape ever so that your walking legs are ready for long walks on the beach or walks through the center of whatever town you go to.
Start making a list of what you want to pack . There are some great apps for this! I actually use an app called “ Out of Milk” which is actually a grocery shopping app but the great thing is that you can create lists, cross items out, and then use the list again and re-activate the same list. I more recently discovered a new app “ ANY LIST” which is amazing as it talks to SIRI!!! Imagine that !!
Start a family “ vacation stash” jar. I keep a mason jar in the laundry room for any loose change and anything in that jar goes right to the vacation money. It might add up to only a few dollars but that’s enough for ice cream at night right???
Choose some great books/magazines to bring on your trip! If your local library is open again make a stop and get a stack of books! I am also a huge fan of swapping and sharing magazines with friends. Many of us have stopped our magazine subscriptions so the few that we still get are great to share and circulate.
Keep in mind, this trip away doesn’t have to be expensive . The whole point is to have something to look forward to and plan for. It could be to hike up to a great camping spot. That may cost you all of $10 ( or free if you know of private land that you have permission to camp on ) ! Plan out what you want to have for food, unpack perhaps a dusty cooler, wash all of your sleeping bags, and get ready !
So, whether it’s just a day trip to the beach, an overnight camping trip, or a week away, plan something fun for your future! It really doesn’t matter if it is a few months away, 6 months, or even a year! Remember the happiness benefit you will get just from the planning regardless as to when the trip is!
Happy Planning !!!!
Tanya