Wow, you must be wondering how in the world can someone be traveling every day of the year. How can you afford that? How do you maintain your household? Well, it’s easy. It’s practically free. As much as I would love a year-long adventure, I am not physically traveling every day of the year, but I am traveling in my thoughts, my plans, my activities, my research and my anticipation. Why? Because…
Travel begins as soon as you buy the tickets!
Yes, that right. The minute you purchase the airplane tickets, you begin traveling in your mind and in your soul. You start researching the destination you are traveling to. And I don’t just mean casually reading about different places. I mean scouring through blog posts “top 10 things to do in Iceland”, researching the best hotels, looking for the top attractions, and planning out your schedules to be able to experience all the adventures. You start reading the history behind the castles, fountains, monasteries, and pyramids that you will be visiting. You research the weather and start figuring out what to wear and searching TripAdvisor and blogs for top restaurants that showcase the local cuisine. You start looking for photography “how-to” videos that will teach you how to take low-level light photos of the Auroras Borealis.
Your mind travels to your planned destination every day before the trip.
You read about the culture of the place you are traveling, you learn what gestures are allowed and which ones are rude. You consider foreign currency and begin to research the Icelandic Krona and look up the exchange rate. You start doing the math and wonder how quickly you can look at an Icelandic price tag and divide by 122 (well, that’s the exchange rate today anyway). You open your mind to meeting and connecting with people from a whole other country. You expand your capacity for appreciating and loving others, the way they live, the way they talk and who they are.
The anticipation of travel produces just as much happiness as actually traveling!
A study from Cornell shows what we have all probably felt when planning a big trip. “Consumers derive value from anticipation, and that value tends to be greater for experiential than for material purchases.” People derive more happiness from experiences as opposed to material things. So there is a high level of happiness gained from all the planning and anticipation that goes into preparing for a trip. And the physical and mental benefits are actually just as high and sometimes higher from the planning period, than the actual trip itself.
Always have a trip on the books
So, yes, I know we probably can’t physically travel as much as we want. But one thing we can do is continue to travel in our minds every day. I find that I am always happier when I have a trip on the books. As part of my prosperity plan, I try to plan 1-2 trips ahead so that I am always researching, reading, learning and traveling in my mind!
So get out there and travel daily… where are you going today?
Great article! We have a cruise planned in January and I am already trying to plan for a trip in June and another in August. Hoping that I can figure out how to make it happen. I definitely agree that doing all the planning keeps me happy and excited for what is to come!
I’m glad you enjoyed. I find I am always happier when I have 1 or 2 trips on the horizon. I hope you can make it happen!
Great post, i always get so so so excited about destinations before i even book the flights, even looking for the flights for me is a major thing, hehehehehe xxx
Nadia xx
http://seaofvenus.wordpress.com
Thanks Nadia. The anticipation is the best. I feel more relaxed knowing that a trip is coming. Always something to look forward to.
I do agree that the anticipation and the planning can be a ton of fun!
Thanks Pam. And Congrats on your Blogger Success Profile on ItsaLovelyLife.com! That’s awesome and inspiring!
Love this – I always say that planning a vacation or trip is just as mentally beneficial as the trip itself. Wonderful post, and reminder!
Thanks Kristin. Travel brings so much joy. Glad you enjoyed.
I couldn’t agree more. Like you, we are traveling 365 days a year, always looking forward and planning for the next trip. I read novels based on the location along with my practical planning, too!
Thanks for the comment Alyse. I love that idea of reading a novel about the place you are traveling. I did that in reverse with Scotland,planned a trip there after reading Outlander series. Great tip!
Agreed! After buying my tickets to Africa last year, I began reading everything I could get my hands on regarding my upcoming Kilimanjaro trek. I discovered that I didn’t know what I didn’t know! 🙂 Anticipation is part of the fun!
Thanks for the response Shirley. That is the most wonderful part, learning so much about the place you are traveling. Kilmanjaro wow! And I am personally learning to speak Icelandic! It is one of the best benefits of world travel, learning about other worlds, languages, and cultures!
Great post! We can travel all year long!
Thanks Tricia!
This is so true! I always like to have one or two trips planned for the future. There is so much to think about to get ready to enjoy a new location. Great post.
Thanks Sheila! I couldnt agree more. always have at least 2 on the books!
Thanks for this post! It is true that you think about the upcoming trip everyday! Love this!
Thanks Phyllis. It is something that gives me joy everyday!
“Consumers derive value from anticipation, and that value tends to be greater for experiential than for material purchases.” I live by this. I go stir crazy when I don’t have a trip on the books. I try to explain this to so many people, but so many fail to understand. Oh well, at least I do and so will my kids hopefully.
Thanks for commenting, Allison. So true, i try to explain that to people all the time. Glad to know Im not alone on that feeling.
So true. I usually do things the other way around, but it’s so true how buying a ticket escalates the excitement.
Yes, Julie. I agree even searching for the flights, etc has the same anticipation. But once the tickets are purchased, you know for sure that you are going! Thanks for commenting.
I’m working on the whole “always having a trip planned.” (wink. wink). So many adventures out there to experience! Love this piece!
Thanks TM. Adventures can be found anywhere you go. Good luck on getting a few planned on the books!
I always try and start planning my next trip before I leave on my current one!
Yes Jaimi! Well said.