Maintaining the Holiday Vibe: Guidelines for Eco-Friendly Entertainment
Vacationing is more than just a break from the daily grind; it has a profound impact on our well-being, according to a comprehensive study by the German Institute for Tourism Research at the West Coast University of Applied Sciences. The research reveals that vacation affects our well-being on three distinct levels: reducing negative stress reactions, strengthening subjective well-being, and contributing to health.
The first level, reducing negative stress reactions, is about restoring inner peace. Professor Carmen Binnewies, a work psychologist at the University of Munster, explains that relaxation is the process of reversing the demands of daily life. Self-determination, which involves designing the vacation to meet one's own needs, is an important factor for individual relaxation experiences.
Effective strategies for maintaining the positive effects of vacation in the long term focus on incorporating the relaxation and joy experienced during the vacation into everyday life and managing stress proactively. One such strategy is to plan regular breaks and mini-vacations. By scheduling short breaks or staycations, individuals can sustain the refreshed feeling without the stress of full travel planning.
Incorporating elements from the vacation that contributed to well-being, such as outdoor activities, trying new hobbies, or spending time with loved ones, into daily or weekly routines can also help maintain well-being. Practising mindfulness and stress management techniques, like meditation, deep breathing, or journaling, learned or enhanced on vacation, can continue to manage stress and maintain a positive mindset.
Staying physically active is another strategy for extending the psychological and emotional benefits of vacations. If your vacation involved physical activities like hiking or swimming, maintaining regular exercise can continue to boost your mood and energy. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is crucial too; avoiding immediately diving back into work overload by prioritizing time for rest and leisure can help extend vacation benefits.
Reflecting on and setting positive intentions can also help sustain the benefits of vacation. Keeping a vacation journal or photo album to remind yourself of the positive experiences and setting intentions to carry those feelings forward can help maintain well-being.
While the search results primarily address vacation rental property care, such as setting up seasonal maintenance calendars and using digital tools to automate upkeep and cleaning for a smooth vacation experience, these organizational practices metaphorically parallel how one might maintain the positive 'state' gained from a vacation by planning and prioritizing wellness practices consistently.
The effects of a vacation last up to three weeks, but the long-term effect isn't necessarily bigger even if you take a long vacation. Regular breaks are important for regeneration from work, as constant thoughts about work during leisure time indicate the need for a longer break. Challenging activities during vacation can boost eudaimonic well-being by encouraging new experiences and stepping out of comfort zones.
The findings are based on the evaluation of 92 scientific studies from tourism research, psychology, medicine, and social sciences. Several shorter vacations a year can be beneficial, as there are scientific studies showing that people who travel more often are more satisfied. Letting go from familiar stressors during vacation, such as turning off work emails and parking the to-do list for later, can enhance its positive effects.
By combining proactive planning, incorporating joyful activities into everyday life, and managing stress effectively, individuals can extend the psychological and emotional benefits of their vacations well beyond the trip itself.
Incorporating home-and-garden activities, such as outdoor hobbies or gardening, into daily routines can help maintain the positive effects of a vacation.
Maintaining a lifestyle that includes regular travel, even short trips, can lead to increased satisfaction and well-being, according to the research.
