Planning a Trip Later This Year?
Today, I took a giant leap of faith and booked flights for Thanksgiving. Like most of you, going to the grocery store has been my big “travel opportunity” lately. So, booking airfare ten months from now was a big step. Almost immediately, I felt a little better and began to imagine what it would be like to travel without fear and anxiety. Of course, I am also realistic that I might have to cancel or modify my trip, but I am ok with that. It’s worth it to have something on my calendar to look forward to.
Reflecting on how my plans boosted my mood, I wondered if there was research on this topic. The first research I found was on how unhappy we are as compared to previous years. Of course, none of us needs a study to tell us that, but it was interesting to see this in quantifiable terms. The COVID Response Tracking Study conducted by the University of Chicago found that just 14% of American adults say they’re very happy, down from 31% who said the same in 2018. That same year, 23% said they’d often or sometimes felt isolated in recent weeks. Now, 50% say that.
While booking travel for the future is not likely to be a long-term solution to unhappiness, it might be worth considering. A new study by the Institute of Applied Positive Research found that booking a trip brought participants joy. Specifically, the researchers found:
97% of survey respondents reported that having a trip planned makes them happier.
71% reported feeling greater energy levels, knowing they had a trip planned in the next six months.
74% agreed that planning something made them feel more in control in times of uncertainty.
Survey respondents overwhelmingly believed that anticipating a planned trip contributed to their sense of mental well-being and gave them a sense of control during an extremely uncertain time.
Another study conducted by Statista showed that 43% of respondents plan to travel domestically in the next 12 months. Another 14 % say they are planning to travel internationally. This seems to indicate that many of us are optimistic that things will be better in the future, despite the need to navigate difficult times ahead.
The purpose of sharing these studies is not to invite you to travel before it is safe. Instead, it might encourage you to consider planning something in the future even if you have to modify or cancel those plans. If travel isn’t realistic for you, plan something else for the future. It might help you get through the difficult months ahead.
Research also shows that guided imagery is a gentle and powerful technique that focuses the imagination in a proactive, positive way. Images created in the mind are almost as real as the actual event. Imagery is the language the mind uses to communicate with your body. If you imagine relaxing and enjoying experiences, your body will respond by releasing tension. Until you can travel again, I’ve included a couple of exercises that will guide you through a virtual vacation that you can enjoy without worrying about your health and safety.