9 Rules for a Happier Vacation

Many people come home from vacation feeling disappointed. Not because the trip was bad, but because they expected it to do more than any vacation possibly can.

In my previous episode on leisure, I discussed its importance to happiness and well-being. A vacation, done well, is really an opportunity to practice leisure more intentionally—whether that means a chance to reconnect with the people you love, lose yourself in nature or culture or read a book you've been meaning to for three years.

In this episode of Office Hours, I share nine research-backed protocols that can help you return from time away feeling happier, more fulfilled, and genuinely restored. We discuss why anticipation is one of the most enjoyable parts of any trip, why shorter vacations may be better than longer ones, and how taking too many photos or posting on social media can pull you out of the very experience you're trying to enjoy.

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Where to find Arthur Brooks: 

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(06:08) America's culture of skipping vacations

(10:57) Vacation rule #1: Discern your motive

(15:24) Vacation rule #2: Savor the anticipation

(21:13) Vacation rule #3: Manage your expectations

(23:32) Vacation rule #4: Break your trip into vacation-ettes

(25:45) Vacation rule #5: Take fewer pictures 

(28:48) Vacation rule #6: Don’t post 

(30:43) Vacation rule #7: Leave work at home 

(32:37) Vacation rule #8: Come home early 

(34:00) Vacation rule #9: Brace yourself when you return 

(35:50) Recap of the 9 vacation rules 

(38:02) Q&A: Is music a distraction?

(39:57) Q&A: Using screens during meals and before sleep

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Referenced:

• The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness: themeaningofyourlife.com

• Meaning Membership: https://hub.arthurbrooks.com/the-meaning-membership 

• Arthur’s newsletter: https://www.arthurbrooks.com/newsletter 

• The Happiness Scale: https://learn.arthurbrooks.com/the-happiness-scale 

• The Pursuit of Happiness with Arthur Brooks: https://www.thefp.com/s/the-pursuit-of-happiness-with-arthur

• The Meaning of Your Life Retreats: https://retreats.arthurbrooks.com

• The Science Behind Being Good at Leisure: https://www.arthurbrooks.com/podcast/the-science-behind-being-good-at-leisure

• 41% of American Workers Let Paid Vacation Days Go to Waste: https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/08/41-percent-of-american-workers-let-their-paid-vacation-go-to-waste/378950

• The Contribution of Vacations to Quality of Life: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256987230_The_Contribution_of_Vacations_to_Quality_of_Life

• ...References continued at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.arthurbrooks.com/office-hours⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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