Seven reasons why holidays matter
As we look forward to new adventures in the year to come, we explore what holidays mean to us. Why new experiences have been scientifically proven to improve memories. How the anticipation of a holiday can affect our mood thanks to the rosy view effect, and how openness to new experiences tends to be self-reinforcing.
“Few places are more conducive to internal conversations than a moving plane, ship or train… Introspective reflections which are liable to stall are helped along by the flow of the landscape. The mind may be reluctant to think properly when thinking is all it is supposed to do.” We agree – and would add car journeys and walking to Botton’s list too.
Whether it’s a night walk along the coast path to watch the stars, a dawn stroll on the deserted beach or, as sound recordist Chris Watson recently found out for us, uncovering the secret soundscape of the sea, holidays are fantastic for freeing up the mind.
In truth, science is just catching up with something we all innately knew already: challenging ourselves and trying new things not only gives us a sense of achievement at the time but also makes us feel good when we replay those memories later.
That’s something we know from experience at Watergate; the power of happy memories. Our CEO Will Ashworth recently looked back on some of his own memories in conversation with his friend and former beach ranger Tim Uff – and while we can’t guarantee the 10-foot deep foam, hidden bars or giant balls of fish they remember, the chance of spotting dolphins, sunfish and other wildlife out in the water is pretty good.
Holidays aren’t just about the time we spend away; planning, anticipating, researching and daydreaming about the adventure ahead are all part of the experience, too.
It’s also been shown that holidays can actually affect our mood even before or after we get away, thanks to a phenomenon known as the ‘rosy view effect,’ reading, planning and watching videos about where we’re headed in the weeks or months before we actually go makes the positive feelings of the holiday itself last much longer.
Action for Happiness champions the importance of maintaining a positive mindset, with plenty of academic ammunition to back its theories up.
The US firm Best Buy reported that flexible working resulted in a 35% increase in productivity (and there are likely to be many more studies published after 2020’s mass remote working experience).
So there’s no need to feel guilty about that early morning swim or stroll along the beach – in fact, it might even make you work better. Just remember to factor in some desk downtime: you're on holiday after all.
That’s one of the reasons we like to encourage all our guests to step outside their comfort zones and try something new, whether it’s surfing, yoga on the beach, or paddleboarding – you never know what new ideas it might spark.
It’s also why we’re always looking to create new experiences at Watergate – such as our exciting partnership with renowned Cornish chef Emily Scott and the Beach Lofts. Even for guests who’ve stayed with us many times before, there’s always a new reason to return.
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