The secret's out! Travel sparks happiness...

Close your eyes. Breathe out. Imagine yourself smiling. Laughing. Having a good day. What do you see?

For many of us in the modern, post-pandemic world, happiness is fleeting. But according to scientists, there's one sure-fire way to be happier. And that is to travel.

It's true... travel boosts your mood

In the Nature Neuroscience peer-reviewed study, researchers collected data on 132 people living in New York and Miami. The results suggested that people feel happier "when they have more variety in their daily routines - when they go to novel places and have a wider array of experiences".

The research showed that even small variations to your daily routines - like going for a walk, exercising at home, or taking a different route to the shops - could increase positive emotions. Plus, when people explored more new and different places in their day, they reported feeling "happy, excited, strong, relaxed and attentive".

A similar study in the journal of Tourism Analysis focusing on 500 Taiwanese people found that frequent travellers are more satisfied with their lives. In fact, those who reported regularly travelling at least 120 km away from home were 7% happier that those who travelled rarely or never at all.

Dr Stefan Klein, author of The Science of Happiness, explains why travel makes him happy: "The pleasures of discovery, the joy of meeting people from other backgrounds and finally the thrill of tasting food I would not get at home far exceeds all strains of travelling."

Here are 7 ways to spark your own happiness today

1. Make a list of all the places you'd like to visit. Just the simple act of writing down your dreams can already lift your spirits and get you excited for things to come.
2. Take a different route. Whether it's your way to work, gym, the grocery store or your running route, mix it up and explore other avenues. Who knows what you might discover?
3. Hit the road walking. Choose a direction and start walking. You'll achieve your steps goal in no times and you'll explore your surroundings, making your world a little bigger each time.
4. Become a local tourist. You know that one coffee shop you always drive past, the museum you swear you'll visit one day or the quiz night at the local café you always decline? Go inside. One day is now.
5. Parkrun your way to your next holiday. A parkrun in another location is as good as a holiday... And you can win a holiday for two with Airlink and Vitality Travel when you do six parkruns before 30 November 2022!
6. Drive at least 120 km away. Grab a map, pick a spot and go! The further you go, the freer you'll feel.
7. Plan your next adventure! If writing down your dream destinations made you feel great, imagine the joy of actually planning a trip!

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• The best part? You can book and manage your entire trip in one place for enhanced peace of mind.