It happens to me every summer. The East Texas heat and humidity start to get to me and I dream of planning a trip somewhere cooler. In an attempt to circumvent a tiny heat-induced depression, I've found that planning a trip somewhere helps.

Not only do I plan a trip, I plan a trip in great details--down to the daily walks and even places to stop for coffee, From the packing to the flight to the hotel to the sights and stops, I plan it all. I stop short of booking the reservation--for now at least.

If one isn't in a place to actually take a trip, isn't this a bit like torturing ourselves? Well, you might think that's the case. In reality, the research shows otherwise. A journal called Applied Research in the Quality of Life states that the process of planning and anticipating the trip may lead to greater happiness than even taking the trip itself? How's that grasping the power of the imagination.

I've also found it to be true that if you want to go somewhere in real life with intent, whether literally or metaphorically, it's almost impossible to go there without having gone there in your mind first. Not to mention, when you DO finally get around to taking that trip, you'll already have half the work done.

HuffPost has an in-depth look if you'd like to peruse further. Get to planning. ;)

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