Last updated November 2, 2026
Snapshot
- The best way to get the most out of your vacation, according to positive psychology, is to plan around five building blocks of well-being, known as the PERMA model: positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning and accomplishment.
- Start by asking what you need right now, whether that’s relaxation or adventure, so your destination matches the emotions you’re hoping to feel.
- Engagement comes from activities that fully absorb you, so look back at moments on past trips when you felt completely immersed.
- Plan activities that bring you closer to a partner or travel companion, and solo travelers can choose trips with built-in chances to meet others.
- A trip feels more meaningful when it matters to you personally, and a sense of accomplishment can come from summiting a mountain or capturing a beautiful photo.
- Research links higher well-being to better physical health and stronger relationships, so a thoughtfully designed vacation pays off long after you’re home.
Travel psychologist Dr. Charlotte Russell shares how the five building blocks of positive psychology can help you get the most out of your vacation.
We all know travel can boost well-being, but how do we get the most out of our vacation? One of the best ways is to apply the lessons of positive psychology.
What Is Positive Psychology
According to Chris Peterson (one of the founding fathers of positive psychology), positive psychology is “the scientific study of what makes life most worth living.”
“Positive psychology is the scientific study of what makes life most worth living.”
Chris Peterson
Positive psychology has captivated the field ever since Martin Seligman launched it in 1998. As Seligman and his colleagues developed the theory, they identified five building blocks of well-being: positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning and accomplishment. Known together as the PERMA model, they help each of us flourish.
As a travel psychologist, I know we get far more from a vacation when we plan it around some (or all) of these five pillars. Research shows that individuals with higher levels of well-being tend to:
- Perform better at work
- Enjoy more satisfying relationships
- Have stronger immune systems and better physical health
- Sleep better
- Burn out less often
- Cope and self-regulate more effectively
- Help others more readily
Plan Your Trip Around the Five Pillars
With the five pillars in mind, these tips can help you get the most out of your vacation.
1. Ask yourself what you need right now
We all want to experience positive and pleasurable emotions on vacation. This might include feelings of relaxation, bliss, inspiration, adventure or excitement. Our specific needs for positive emotions will differ depending on our personality, preferences and what is currently going on in our lives.
It sounds obvious to design our vacation around what we might need. But many other drivers of trip planning aren’t focused on our current needs.
We can be drawn to busy destinations when we might really need some restoration and relaxation. We may be drawn to a beach destination when what we truly need is adventure.
Consider what’s going on in your life, and tune in to what you really want and need. As you plan, picture yourself there and notice which positive emotions come up. Then weigh your destination choices and ask yourself: What will I enjoy most about this trip? What might give me a sense of relaxation, fulfillment, pleasure or satisfaction?
2. Identify activities that will engage you
Engagement means being fully absorbed in an activity and feeling connected. If we can curate experiences that provide this, it can supercharge our well-being.
We are all very different, so the activities that engage us will vary. It can help to identify the activities that you have felt fully absorbed in on previous trips.
Alternatively, you might identify something that you have always pictured yourself doing. For some people, being in the ocean can help them to feel engaged and connected. For others, adventure activities might do the trick.
3. Create conditions for relationships to flourish
Time with the people we care about lifts our well-being, and travel offers a rare chance to reconnect away from the demands of life. A few questions can help guide your planning. What activities might help me feel connected to my partner or travel companion? What activities might we enjoy together? If traveling alone, will the trip give me opportunities to meet and chat to other people?
4. Find meaning on your vacation
As a psychologist, I know well-being grows when we spend our limited time and energy on what matters to us personally. So before you book, consider what this trip could give you that feels deeply personal.
Your destination might be meaningful simply because you’ve always dreamed of visiting. You might find a spa getaway meaningful as a special treat after achieving a milestone at work.
The important thing is that it is meaningful to you personally!
5. Curate opportunities for accomplishment
Feeling that we have accomplished something can help us to feel satisfied and fulfilled. On our travels, this is not about being productive. However, we can use our energy to take part in an activity that provides a sense of accomplishment.
For adventure lovers, this might mean climbing a mountain or spotting rare marine life at a world-class dive site. For those who prefer a more relaxed trip, this might mean taking some beautiful photos that preserve your memory of the breathtaking scenery.
Planning a Happier Trip
How do you get the most out of your vacation?
Start by matching the trip to what you need most right now, whether that’s rest or adventure. Then build in activities that absorb you and time with the people who matter to you.
Is a relaxing or adventurous vacation better for well-being?
The best choice depends on what’s happening in your life. Burnout often calls for rest and restoration, and feeling stuck in a rut may call for adventure, so check in with your needs before you book.
