

How to max your trip’s mental-health benefits
Want to travel your way to a calmer, more rested and altogether happier mindset (even after you return home)? No problem—we ask the experts how it’s done
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It’s official: Travel is good for us. Study after study has shown it to be so, and all the evidence says that we should take more vacations. But not every trip is created equal, and there are ways to ensure that we get the most therapeutic bang for our buck.
“On vacation, you don’t just recover automatically,” says Adam Markel, a workplace expert who focuses on recovery and resilience, and the author of Change Proof. “Just because you spent the money and flew someplace, that doesn’t mean all the work is done. You have to be a willing participant in your own unwinding.”
But how exactly do you do that? These expert-approved strategies will get you on the right track. Plus, scroll down for six mindful trips that are guaranteed to leave you rested and refreshed.
Build a boundary
When you’re working on a vacation, you are no longer on vacation, so create guardrails. “Manage expectations with your coworkers,” says Tammy Allen, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the University of South Florida who studies work-life balance. “Let people know that they can contact you if it’s an emergency, but otherwise this is your vacation.” She recommends an out-of-office reply that includes three magic words: You are “off the grid.”

Go analog
“Your time will be more refreshing without screens,” says Chris Bailey, a productivity guru and author of How to Calm Your Mind. While it’s impractical to truly ditch our phones, he recommends setting limits on screen time, only using certain apps (perhaps boot the “time wasters” from your home screen), and using your phone’s focus mode.
Allen suggests leaving your phone in the hotel room while you’re on the beach, “so you pick up that book instead of scrolling through TikTok.”
Focus on the people
“All the studies around health and longevity are clear that they involve community and interaction with people,” says Markel. Even solo travelers can reap the people-focused benefits: “When you go to the supermarket on vacation, make the time to actually engage with the clerk,” says Markel. “Have conversations with perfect strangers.”
He calls this an important “recovery ritual,” and if you take the time to engage with others, it’s working, “whether you know it or not.”
Avoid the “big pile”
The beach feels like a distant memory when you return to a mountain of work. Not only does the “big pile” add stress when you return, but the very possibility of its existence can give you heartburn while you’re away. Take preemptive action.
“Delegate certain things,” says Markel, as in don’t just delay the work (with an out-of-office reply) but ensure someone can handle the task in your absence. “This is how you set yourself up for success.”

Add a buffer day
At the end of your trip, the stress of travel—delayed flights, jet lag—can bleed into your first day of work, sabotaging your hard-earned recovery. This is why Markel recommends a “buffer day” once you’re home. “It’s almost like an astronaut going to space,” he says. “You have to reacclimatize yourself to the atmosphere, to recalibrate for normal life.”
One more thing: “If you have unused vacation time at the end of the year, you’re doing something wrong,” says Bailey. “You need to take more vacations.”
Six trips to soothe the psyche
Nature retreat at Yosemite, CA
Humans have been using nature therapy for thousands of years: “Nature itself is the best physician,” said Hippocrates. You’ll find that doctor (no copay) in Yosemite’s 750 miles of hiking trails, diverse ecosystems, and waterfalls with awe-inspiring views. Bonus? Much of the National Park has limited cell service, helping you to disconnect—whether you like it or not.
Also consider: The Lake District, England; Sintra, Portugal; Banff, Canada.Beach bliss in the Maldives
The Maldives’ clear waters are calming, snorkeling is restorative, and the islands’ isolated nature seems designed for a digital detox. Less can be more: Consider a rainy beach day, says Allen, where you stay inside and “just completely relax, like starting a good book you’ve been wanting to read for a while.”
Also consider: Maui, HI; the Gold Coast, Australia; Naxos, Greece.Cultural immersion in Marrakech, Morocco
Navigating the sensory overload of sights, sounds and smells at the Jemaa el-Fnaa (Marrakech’s hectic main marketplace) can be challenging—and that’s what makes it such a rewarding escape. “Going to a city with a completely different culture than your own,” says Allen, can spark curiosity, boost creativity, and even give jolts of accomplishment when you figure things out. “These are great experiences that you can bring back to work with you.”
Also consider: Kyoto, Japan; Hanoi, Vietnam; Tbilisi, Georgia.Adventure travel in Queenstown, New Zealand
As Socrates said, “Know thyself.” Not everyone handles stress the same way, so Allen says that for those who crave activity, “a vacation with lots of hiking, biking, and kayaking is going to meet those needs.” For this, it’s hard to top the skydiving, bungee jumping, hiking, white-water rafting, and mountain
biking of Queenstown, considered by many to be the adventure capital of the world.
Also consider: Argentinian Patagonia; Moab, UT; the Great Smoky Mountains, TN.Historical exploration in Athens, Greece
Speaking of the ancient Greeks, exploring history can provide some wide-lens perspective, banishing those toxic thoughts of to-do lists. In Athens, the Acropolis, the Temple of Hephaestus, and the marvels inside the National Archaeological Museum have survived for thousands of years—is your looming work deadline really that important, in the grand scheme of things?
Also consider: Cairo, Egypt; Rome, Italy; Cusco, Peru.Wellness retreat in Ubud, Bali
Cliché? Perhaps, but it’s one that has the ring of truth. You’ll find your bliss in Ubud—the cultural and spiritual hub of Bali—thanks to yoga classes galore, meditation retreats, and traditional Balinese healing and massages. When you walk through the tranquil rice terraces, the headaches of work will feel a world away.
Also consider: Sedona, AZ; Tulum, Mexico; Goa, India.

Jeff Wilser
Writer
Jeff Wilser is the author of seven books, a frequent traveler (living in 24 countries in the three years to 2020), and a contributor to The New York Times, GQ, and Fast Company.

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