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"We enjoy a trip from the moment we start thinking about it."
Amid the challenges of the pandemic, lockdown measures have reduced the ability to create new experiences and connect with people; and we are missing that interaction more than ever. However, Amit Kumar, co-author of the Cornell University study, argues that the phrasesocial distancingshould be replaced withphysical distancingTo accurately describe what's happening, the isolation measures are actually only aimed at protecting people's physical health. Positive emotional management is a different matter entirely.
Although we can't be in close contact with people as usual, we can still interact with each other through online chats. But if you're unsure what to say, the topic of future plans can be an ideal suggestion.
“We tend to pay more attention to our mental well-being in the future,” observes Matthew Killingsworth, co-author with Kumar. “Thinking about what’s to come can be a pleasure if we know what we’re doing.”hope"We believe in good things to come. Similarly, travel can be considered an exciting activity worth looking forward to."
Thinking about what's to come can be a joy if we know how to hope for good things to come.
When imagining a future trip, the novelty and uncertainty actually stimulate excitement in the mind. “In a way, we enjoy a trip from the moment we start thinking about it,” Killingsworth says. “For example, when we imagine eating gelato at a pizza parlor in Rome or going ice skating with friends… those experiences can completely appear in our minds before they actually happen.”
EVEN DURING A PANDEMIC, IT'S STILL WORTH "DREAMING" ABOUT A TRIP.
The future of the travel industry after the pandemic remains uncertain, but Killingsworth suggests you map out your dream trip beforehand (about where you'll go and what you'll do) without being too dependent on a specific timeframe. Start booking flights and hotels as soon as the pandemic situation improves and it's safe enough to travel again. "But if this makes you feel increasingly discouraged or hopeless, it's best to put it aside and wait for a more opportune time," Killingsworth advises.
Former clinical psychologist and author Alice Boyes agrees.general approachThis is the best approach right now, which can be understood as "like researching all the information about a national park you want to visit." When traveling during a pandemic becomes a source of anxiety, Boyes suggests that planning your trip can help alleviate some of that anxiety.
“If you’re feeling anxious, planning your trip can provide comfort and help reduce stress,” Boyes said. “For example, I want to know in advance how I’ll get from the airport to my hotel when I’m in a foreign country, so I often check directions to places and use street view on Google Maps, so I anticipate potential problems and feel more confident.”
“This virus may be a barrier to people’s travel, but it can’t stop us from thinking about travel,” shared travel expert Rick Steves. “Planning a trip might be the best thing you can do right now to stay positive. And as soon as things are under control, we’ll all be ready to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.”
In conclusion
The series of studies on the benefits of travel planning during a pandemic is, in essence, also a testament to the magic offaithandhopeRegardless of the current circumstances, a mind that maintains faith and hope will always know how to move towards the brighter future.
To conclude, here is an excerpt from the Fox's message to the Little Prince, about the importance of... planning.
"For example, if you say you'll be here at 4 p.m., I'll be happy from 3 p.m. The closer it gets to 4 p.m., the happier I become. At 4 p.m., I get frantic, I get anxious; and then I suddenly understand the true value of happiness!"
But if you can come anytime—I don't know when—then I should get ready to groom my fur… There has to be a ritual!”
"Ritual is gWhat?
"That's what makes one day different from other days, one hour different from all other hours."
(The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry)
