Forget Christmas: The launch of vacation season has to be the most wonderful time of the year. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, millions of us will be taking advantage of the warm temps to indulge in some much needed R&R. Exciting! Except for the fact that most of us come back from a trip feeling like we need another vacation.
Head to the beach.
When trying to decide whether you should spend your week in the city, country, or at the coast—opt for the shore. According to a recent study from the European Centre for Environment and Human Health, people who went to the water’s edge for a holiday reported more enjoyment, serenity, and refreshment than people who spent time in an urban setting or wilderness.
Stash the smartphone.
For a vacation to be rejuvenating, you need to be completely present in the moment. “That means put away your phones, your iPads, and laptops,” You need to be on vacation in both body and spirit to reap the benefits of being somewhere else—and your pinging Blackberry doesn’t exactly help with that. “If you’re distracted on vacation, it’s not worth it".
Step outside your comfort zone.
Sure, lounging on the beach all day with a strawberry daiquiri in your hand is a restful way to spend your afternoon—just don’t spend all your afternoons like that. Your physical and mental well-being will gain a lot more from an out-of-the-box activity, Plan activities that offer novelty and variety, like taking a surfing lesson or venturing off the resort for a local meal.
Go out with a bang.
While you may be tempted to jump into every single activity as soon as you land, consider holding something back. Psychologists say there’s something called the "peak-end rule," which means we remember an experience by its peak—and how it ends. In other words, save the best activity for last to have even happier vacation memories.
