Travel is crucial to happiness.
Too strong? More than 80% of all respondents to Going’s annual “State of Travel” survey say travel is either “critical” or “important” to happiness — worth giving up Netflix or pizza so they could travel.
The study confirms earlier research on travel’s effect on happiness. In 2020, Nature published a study showing a link between frequently changing your physical location and happiness, while a 2012 study found that taking trips for leisure provides a short-term happiness boost.
Happiness expert Melanie Allen shares why travel brings us joy.
Keys to Happiness
“Your satisfaction in life comes from a complex interaction between various factors, including emotional well-being, genetics, and life experiences,” explains Allen.
There’s no one path to happiness, but “traveling checks a lot of the boxes,” she adds.
How Travel Makes US Happy
According to Allen, every aspect of traveling brings us joy, from planning a trip to embarking on a journey and enjoying our time away.
Planning a trip gives us something to look forward to; we feel more energized and optimistic knowing something exciting is on the horizon.
According to Psychology Today, anticipation, such as travel planning, releases dopamine, the feel-good chemical linked to pleasure and satisfaction.
Trips create happiness by offering new experiences, changing our perspective, providing challenges to overcome, and teaching us about the world and ourselves — four essential ingredients for a happy life.
Why We Travel Provides More Insight Into Travel and Happiness
People travel for various reasons; some want to relax on the beach, some crave new experiences, and many travel to visit loved ones.
A 2022 YouGov Direct survey for Pacaso highlights consumers’ wide range of travel reasons, showcasing how different groups value different aspects of travel.
The survey found generational differences in why we travel. Older Americans tend to visit family and friends, while millennials prefer relaxation. The youngest generations are most likely to prioritize international adventures. Ultimately, all travelers’ reasons correspond with happiness research.
Family and Friends
In 2017, Harvard published results from one of the world’s longest-running happiness studies. Researchers followed a cohort of men for nearly 80 years, expanding to include their offspring, wives, and other control groups, to understand which factors contribute to a happy life.
The study found that close relationships create happiness. Positive social relationships help people overcome challenges, stay healthy, and improve overall well-being.
Allen says despite well-studied links between positive social relationships and happiness, it’s harder to maintain those friendships in today’s world. Though we’re more connected than ever, we’re also more spread out as people move away from home to follow opportunities.
“Traveling to visit loved ones keeps us connected with them in ways that phone calls and Facetime can’t replicate,” she says, adding that this form of happiness might appeal more to older generations who realize the importance of connecting with loved ones.
Relaxing
In 2021, the National Library of Medicine published a study showcasing the potential link between mindfulness and happiness. Participants practicing mindfulness showed more signs of happiness and fewer signs of depression and anxiety.
Allen explains the relationship between mindfulness and relaxation and hypothesizes why millennials are more likely to prefer relaxing trips. “Millennials are currently in the grind. They’re mid-career, raising kids, dealing with aging parents, and stressing about their finances. They don’t have a moment for themselves,” she says.
“Given that, I can see why a relaxing vacation would appeal to them. They can finally have a moment to breathe. A peaceful beach vacation allows them space to embrace mindfulness that they don’t have in the chaos of everyday life.”
New Experiences
The 2020 Nature study showed that those with a broader array of daily experiences, who get out of the house and do more things, tend to be happier than those stuck in routine.
Allen says traveling injects new experiences, especially for younger generations who cite international adventure as their main reason for traveling.
“Journeying to a new place allows you to get that diversity of experience every day,” she says. “An international trip lets you meet new people, see new things, try new foods, and do something completely outside of your routine for the duration of the trip.”
You Don’t Need To Travel To Be Happy
Allen stresses that although traveling makes many people happy, it’s not for everyone. Some find travel stressful and overwhelming, while others are happier tending to their lives at home.
“Traveling gives people the life experiences they need for happiness, but it’s not the only way to gain those experiences,” she says. Allen explains that you can also engage in hobbies, take classes, connect with new people, or challenge yourself at work to achieve a similar happiness boost.
Happiness Is Within Reach
Whether you prefer to travel or stay home, happiness is within reach. Connect with the people you love, take a break from the stress of daily life, and try new things wherever you find yourself — those are the keys to a happy life.
