Why Travel Planning Might Be the Biggest Happiness Boost You’re Overlooking
The science, the psychology, and the spa-inspired way to make it last
Most people assume the happiness of travel comes from the trip itself.
But research suggests something more surprising — and far more accessible.
According to a study published in Applied Research on Quality of Life, the largest spike in happiness doesn’t come from the vacation.
It comes from planning it.
In fact, that anticipatory boost can last up to eight weeks. And research from the Institute for Applied Positive Research found that 71% of people report higher energy levels when they have a trip planned within the next six months.
Which means this:
You don’t need to be on a beach to benefit from travel.
You just need something meaningful to look forward to.
Anticipation is a Wellness Practice
This year, January 24th is officially Plan Your Vacation Day, but the real value of planning has very little to do with booking logistics.
Anticipation gives the nervous system something to soften into.
It interrupts monotony.
It shifts attention from obligation to possibility.
In the depths of winter — or any season of stress — that shift alone can be restorative.
But here’s where it gets interesting.
Why Some Trips Increase Happiness and Others Don’t
The same research found that not all travel produces post-trip happiness.
People who returned from stressful or neutral trips showed no lasting benefit. Even those who had pleasant but busy vacations often lost the happiness boost almost immediately upon returning to work.
But one group stood out.
Those who experienced deeply relaxing trips — the kind that truly calmed the nervous system — showed higher happiness levels for up to two weeks after returning home.
Relaxation, not duration, made the difference.
You Don’t Need a Week Off To Feel Better
This is especially important for busy women who assume wellness travel requires a full week away.
The research suggests otherwise.
Trip length didn’t significantly impact happiness.
The degree of relaxation did.
Which means:
- shorter trips
- taken more frequently
- with an emphasis on rest and restoration
can keep you in a near-constant state of travel-planning happiness throughout the year.
And yes — one deeply relaxing getaway without the kids (and possibly without your partner) can be transformative.
Why Wellness Travel Works So Well
Wellness travel — and destination spas in particular — support happiness in three powerful ways:
1. Deep Relaxation
Unlike a day spa, destination spas offer immersion. You don’t leave and re-enter real life between treatments. That containment is what allows relaxation to deepen — and last.
2. Built-In Planning
Wellness travel requires intention. Treatments, activities, and schedules are chosen in advance, which amplifies the anticipatory happiness effect long before you arrive.
3. Shorter, Intentional Stays
Many destination spas offer 3–4 day stays, making it easier to plan more frequent restorative trips rather than waiting for “the perfect week.”
My Personal Happiness Secret
When I reflect on this research, it explains something I’ve intuitively done for years.
During my corporate career, I built spa time into business travel. I always had something restorative on the calendar.
I also made a ritual of short spa getaways around my birthday and planned one longer destination spa trip each year. Between work travel and personal retreats, I was always planning something — and always benefitting from that quiet happiness boost.
Planning became part of my wellness rhythm.
When Planning Alone Isn’t Enough
The hardest part of travel is not leaving.
It’s returning.
This is where many people lose the benefit of even the most beautiful trip. Old routines resume. Stress reasserts itself. And the glow fades.
That’s why integration matters.
Not every journey needs support — but when you want the benefits of travel to translate into real life, having structure, reflection, and accountability can extend the impact significantly.
Travel Planning When you aren’t ready or able to travel
Even if you’re not booking anything yet, you can still access the happiness benefits of planning.
Here are a few spa-inspired ways to do that:
Explore Without Commitment
Read destination spa guides. Browse retreat offerings. Wander through travel magazines or wellness blogs. Curiosity alone activates anticipation.
Create a Spa Bucket List
Big or small. Near or far. Solo or shared. Writing it down matters — it gives your future a shape.
Reflect on Intention
Ask yourself what you want travel to support:
- rest
- healing
- transition
- reconnection
- growth
Wellness travel is powerful because it’s immersive — and immersion changes us.
Journal Reflection
Take a moment and consider:
What kind of experience are you longing for right now — rest, inspiration, healing, or change?
And what might simply planning that experience shift for you today?
You don’t need answers yet. Just awareness.
Where This Might Lead
If planning itself brings a sense of lightness and possibility, you don’t need to rush the next step.
Explore Curated Spa Escapes
A place to wander, imagine, and begin shaping what you’d like to look forward to.
Ask Love to Spa
Personalized guidance when you’d like help refining or interpreting what’s calling you.
A curated travel club focused on spa-inspired journeys and intentional planning is coming soon.
