Why ‘Experiences’ are Good for Your Health by Jamie Goldstein hether it’s getting, giving or simply having them, there’s no denying that modern society puts significant emphasis on material objects. Yes, such items can provide a lasting physical reminder—and that can be important—but, contrary to the popular belief that experiences only add to our memory bank, research shows that experiences provide so much more by reducing stress, creating happiness and enhancing one’s mental and emotional state.
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Reduce Stress Allowing yourself to take a break from work and other stressors gives your body a chance to relax and re-energize, diminishing your stress and, in turn, improving your overall health. Taking a trip allows your mind to turn your focus away from the problems of daily life. The reduction in stress during travel causes your cortisol levels to drop, which in turn makes you feel more at ease. This happens even if your travel plans are packed full of daily activities, so don’t feel like you need to lay at the beach to receive the health benefits of taking a vacation.
those that joined you on the experience. They can connect you to others by sharing your story. Experiences can also make for important life lessons or a funny story. Experiences that might have been scary or stressful at the time can change upon reflection; you might realize the humor in the situation, thus increasing your happiness over time. Another positive to experiences over physical objects is that you’re less likely to compare or be judged. This is because experiences are individualized and unique, whereas physical objects can fall victim to unproductive comparisons—like who has the fancier car or who has the bigger home.
Mental and Emotional State
Studies show that while people believe that physical objects are more likely to increase your happiness, experiences actually are more likely to keep you happy in the long term. This is because we adapt to new objects, and the initial excitement diminishes. Think of a child who begs for a shiny new toy only to have it collecting dust
Your mental and emotional state is directly connected to your level of stress and your overall happiness. When people are not in a good place mentally or emotionally, they tend to keep to themselves and not participate in life. This only causes greater harm to their mental and emotional state. Experiences, however, can help to enhance one’s mood. The experience can be an extended one such as a month-long vacation or something as simple as a walk if it’s in the right environment—studies show experiencing a nature hike versus a walk in the city can actually improve your mental health. While some may fear that these experiences could increase stress and, in turn, cause harm to one’s mental and emotional state, experiences actually tend to create mental resilience. Unexpected glitches in travel plans teach us how to work through the obstacle
months later. The concept is the same with adults. Yet, not only are experiences better for a continual level of happiness, studies show that over time your happiness actually increases when recalling past experiences. The reason experiences tend to increase your happiness over time is that they become part of you, as opposed to a physical object. Experiences become stories you can share with others. They allow a greater connection with
while often ultimately leading to success with a story to tell down the road. One other reason that experiences often boost mental health is because they are often experience with others, whether it is going to a concert, finding a friend to hike with or taking a vacation with someone. All of these experiences allow for human interaction and human connection, which is a key component to improving your mental health.
Happiness
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