4 Ways to Plan a Mind-Restoring Vacation
Research reveals the types of vacations that give the biggest mental boost
By Victoria Stern
• Rural is restorative. In one study, people generally rated rural settings as providing the best environment for relieving stress and enhancing mood.
• A weekend is long enough. The aftereffects may not last long, but research shows that an impromptu short vacation can improve psychological well-being in the moment.
• Activity is encouraged. People who spent more time engaging in physical activity on a winter vacation or weekend getaway reported significantly greater satisfaction.
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
• Planning is half the fun. Some studies show that people derive the most vacation-related pleasure from organizing their trip. So if money is tight, try planning a staycation—mapping out fun new things to do in your hometown may deliver a similar jolt of happiness.
Subscribe to Support Independent Journalism
Great science journalism requires human expertise, time, effort and creativity. And it costs money. That’s why I and the journalists here at Scientific American hope you’ll join our community.
When you subscribe, you are supporting staff and freelance journalists who are passionate about telling science stories that are true, important and compelling. Our editors and reporters are often experts in their fields, which means they understand the nuances of big discoveries and can untangle the breakthroughs from the hype. With a subscription, you are also supporting rigorous fact-checking to ensure the words we publish are precise and accurate. And you’re supporting original illustrations, graphics and photos that bring you closer to an advanced laboratory, an ice sheet in Antarctica or a space mission in orbit. You’re helping us craft other types of high-quality journalism as well: Our newsletters are carefully written, edited and curated by staffers you have or will come to know and love. Our Science Quickly podcast is based on original reporting, collaboration with editors and scientists and exacting production.
Subscriptions keep this engine running so we can continue to deliver thoughtful, rigorous and independent science journalism to you. In an era of viral misinformation, this work is crucial. If you value what we do, I hope you’ll consider joining us as a subscriber
