We all know that travel is good for the soul – but how often should we actually be jetting off? Well, new British research has revealed that there’s an ideal number of trips you should be making abroad each year – and it’s probably more than you’d expect.
The Science of Travel
Research shows that taking multiple trips in a year can be very beneficial for your physical and mental health. According to a study from the University of Exeter, multiple trips might lower stress levels, and enhance cardiovascular health, plus the overall joy of travelling. But how many exactly? Experts say three or four holidays a year is ideal.
It’s not just the number of trips that counts; the health benefits scored were also dependent on the quality of the trips. Taking a weekend trip is great, given it allows people to disconnect from everyday worries and relax.
The Perfect Travel Balance
According to British scientists, rather than saving a year for one long holiday, it is better to take smaller breaks throughout the year. But why is that? Because travelling multiple times gives one the opportunity to relax multiple times. It works like recharging batteries throughout the year.
Come up with different types of trips with varied locations – a nearby weekend trip to the Lake District, a Mediterranean holiday to a sunny beach in summer, and a city break to Budapest during winter. Oh, and before booking, don’t forget to transfer to Budapest airport in order to conveniently get on with your holiday.
Travel Isn’t Just for Fun
We often think of holidays as just a time to lounge on the beach, have a drink, and not worry about work for a few days (or weeks). But travelling is also an experience that can widen your horizons, bring you closer to different cultures and even increase your creativity. A study by the Association for Psychological Science states that travelling to new experiences can increase one’s ability to be creative and solve problems.
Feeling stagnant at work? Need inspiration? Maybe you should take a vacation at the right time!
When to Travel
Be strategic with your holidays. According to researchers, you can benefit more by planning trips right around the time you expect high-stress levels, i.e., post-Christmas season depression or busy mid-year months.
For many, the months bridging late spring to early autumn are among the best times to go exploring. The sun is shining, it’s not as hot (unbearably in some places), and there is almost an entire lack of tourist hordes. Better still, if you space out your holidays, you’ll always have something to look forward to—and anticipation does make people happy.
Final Thoughts
How many times a year should you travel? If you can do three or four trips, you’ll probably enjoy excellent overall health benefits in both mind and body and gain memories that will last a lifetime.
Weekend sojourn or epic journey; it doesn’t matter. Prioritise travel as the best present you could ever give yourself. And if you are heading to Hungary’s capital city, make sure you transfer to Budapest airport to minimise the onset of travel-induced stress.
Now, where will your next trip take you?