Before Planning an Exotic Summer Vacation...Read This

Photo: flickr/Morgan SherwoodAre you planning an adventure vacation packed with new experiences? Thinking about doing something that few people have ever done, like climbing Mt Everest? Well, according to this study, these experiences may not be all they're cracked up to be. These researchers found that "participants thoroughly enjoyed having experiences that were superior to those had by their peers, but that having had such experiences spoiled their subsequent social interactions and ultimately left them feeling worse than they would have felt if they had had an ordinary experience instead." Enjoy your trip! The Unforeseen Costs of Extraordinary Experience "People seek extraordinary experiences—from drinking rare wines and taking exotic vacations to jumping from airplanes and shaking hands with celebrities. But are such experiences worth having? We found that participants thoroughly enjoyed having experiences that were superior to those had by their peers, but that having had such experiences spoiled their subsequent social interactions and ultimately left them feeling worse than they would have felt if they had had an ordinary experience instead. Participants were able to predict the benefits of having an extraordinary experience but were unable to predict the costs. These studies suggest that people may pay a surprising price for the experiences they covet most." Related content: Study finds that Pphubbing (snubbing your partner in favor of your phone) actually makes you unhappy.Which makes you happier: anticipating an experience or a purchase?Just living near fast-food restaurants makes experiences less pleasurable.