One of the things I have missed the most during the time of Covid was traveling. Like so many others, I had to cancel my travel plans and don’t know if I will be able to make any between now and the end of the year.
It isn’t a coincidence that travel makes most of us feel invincible. Like magic. It’s addictive. But there is a science behind the joy we feel from it.
Our brains are novelty-driven. Neurobiologists have known that a novel environment sparks exploration and learning, but very little is known about whether the brain really prefers novelty as such. The ‘novelty center’ of the brain — called the substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area (SN/VTA) -might be activated by the unexpectedness of a stimulus, the emotional arousal it causes, or the need to respond behaviorally.
I can totally agree that the happiest part of the vacation is right before I arrive. However, research shows that the happiest part, in fact, is when we are planning our vacations. Studies show that everyone experiences pre-trip happiness — who doesn’t like the anticipation of good times ahead? Post-trip happiness, on the other hand, is all dependent on how relaxing the trip ended up being.
Not all of us like throwing ourselves out of our comfort zones or even out of a plane with a parachute on our back. That’s because not all of us are natural risk takers. In fact, most of us opt for the easy options and the travel destinations we know and love.
Recent studies show that risk taking might be contagious. So be aware what kind of people you surround yourself with. If you want to take more risks but you’re afraid, find friends who are living on the edge. It was also discovered that there is a part of the brain called caudate nucleus that responds to risks.
So if you are surrounded by avid risk takers, your caudate nucleus might be stimulated more than normal. This explains why previously cautious people tend to become adventurers once they find friends who “live on the edge”.
Research has proven that vacations can also prevent the incidence of heart disease. Studies show that travel will make you 30% less likely to die from a heart-related cause. A vacation helps you reduce stress levels, reconnect with your friends and the environment and do more things you love. How’s that for an excuse to go on vacation more often?
Need more creativity in your life? Travel is just the ticket! Scientific studies have proven that there is a correlation between travel and creativity. It will help you to be more open-minded, innovative, and it will give your self-confidence a boost. Engaging in local culture is the key to getting your creative juices flowing. How good it feels to immerse yourself in the experience and allow yourself to adapt to a new environment! The more you can soak up the experiences that travel has to offer, the more the creative side of your brain will flourish. Some people feel more alive when they travel and visit unfamiliar places or foreign countries because, at those times, sense perception and experiencing takes up more of their consciousness than thinking. They become more present.
Sometimes it’s difficult to decide what to spend your money on. Well, (yes, you guessed it!) A study has shown that people who spend money on experiences, rather than on objects, are happier. While an object can have a permanent place in our lives, compared to a fleeting experience, it doesn’t make us happier.
The joy of an experience can stay for a lifetime.
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