Did you know that just planning a getaway can make you a happier person? From the moment you pick your destination, you’ll go into “vacation anticipation” mode, a state of mind studied by researchers who insist that the benefits of a vacation begin the moment you start the process. “In a sense, we start to ‘consume’ a trip as soon as we start thinking about…
How grateful are you feeling this year as Thanksgiving approaches? Did you know that gratitude plays a major role in keeping you healthy? According to psychologist Matt Killingsworth, the happiest people on earth practice the art of gratitude regularly rather than saving it all up for Thanksgiving. Dr. Robert A. Emmons agrees. The University of California-Davis professor has proven that the “The human need to…
Have you ever felt guilty about needing a vacation, but you refused to admit it aloud? This is, sadly, a common situation for North Americans since we pride ourselves on our stamina and tenacity. But Forbes magazine went so far as to consult behaviorist Bryan Robinson to find out why we’re denying ourselves—and it’s worse than we imagine. “47% of workers feel guilty for taking…
Is it possible to build a meaningful vacation itinerary that offers the laid-back experience you crave plus the energy-laden excitement that can only be enjoyed when you’re far enough away from reality to do exactly what you please? To be honest, some destinations specialize in one or the other, but if you target Belize as your happy place, you’ve gotten a great start on pursuing…
You’re not imagining things if, every time you turn around, you hear about a new girlfriend-focused outing from the women in your life. Girls’ night out. Theater performances. Women-only events at the local pub. Given so much attention to female gatherings, men can feel short changed when it comes to group get-togethers—unless the occasion happens to be a bachelor party. If you feel left out,…
Considering overseas retirement? Join the movement! “A surge in American emigration is reshaping the global landscape,” say experts at the Harvey Law Corporation, a firm specializing in American emigration. North Americans, it seems, are fed up with rising health care prices, explosive cost-of-living increases, political instability, and a return to work-life balance that seems to be slipping away. Is this an anomaly? Numbers prove otherwise….
On July 23, 2025, Opheli Lawler wrote an article for Travel + Leisure magazine naming the 10 Most Frustrating Beaches in the World! This list is no outlier. Compiled by editors at Cloudworks and based on Tripadvisor reviews, investigators concluded that picture-perfect days “might not be possible” for disappointed tourists who find “dirtiness, overcrowding, long lines, and noise” at some of the world’s most famous…
Few organizations are as respected as the American Medical Association, so when the AMA asked News Editor Sara Berg to address the topic of “decision fatigue,” website followers took notice. Relying on techniques used by psychiatrist Lisa MacLean to help patients address this crisis, Berg states the problem in terms you’ll easily understand: “From the moment we wake up, we are seemingly bombarded with choices—what…
Kari Owens loves a great Independence Day celebration, and she’s become something of an expert on why these occasions are so important to societies around the world. Her most recent post on the Nonprofit Youth Exchange Organization (ICES) website describes the joy and elation patriots feel, especially those who have had difficult times achieving independence. “Independence days hold profound significance for countries, marking the culmination…
If you find yourself on a perpetual quest for dopamine rushes—and you consider a summer diving and snorkeling getaway as the ultimate thrill—we’ve got news that could make your world a whole lot more enjoyable. Looking for pleasure doesn’t begin with grabbing a tank and heading to the Caribbean. Dopamine spikes the minute we start making plans to leave for a pleasurable escape, notes neuroscientist…