The Psychology Behind Different Experiences

Discover why experiences make us feel good

by Violet Currey

Social get-togethers, trips with friends, solo adventures, and romantic getaways with your loved one are all different experiences that do one thing: make you feel good! Most importantly, our minds love different experiences and that’s why we are so obsessed with getting them on our calendars. But what pleasures are we actually getting from them? Well, we’ve got the answers so look no further. Learn how your mind works in different situations, from a psychological perspective. You’ll understand why some of us seek thrills, crave relaxation, or simply want to spend every trip with our fave people in our lives. So when you’re organising your next experience (or winning your epic holiday prize), you’ll know exactly what is making your mind tick and giving you all of those feel-good vibes. Buckle your seatbelts for a ride into the mind and how it all works.

Thrill-seeking & High Octane Activities

Some people love the fast lane in life and are constantly seeking adventure. They’re always up for a challenge and face their fears by participating in adrenaline-fueled activities. But why can’t some of us get enough of bungee jumping, swimming with sharks, or adventure hiking through high mountains? It’s all got to do with the adrenaline and dopamine that cause us to feel excited. We’ve all heard the term ‘fight or flight’. This is the effect that jumping out of a plane causes in your brain by pumping it with stress hormones. Why the heck would you want that? Well, even though your body is freezing with fear, once you’ve actually jumped your brain is reacting as if you’re doing something dangerous (which you kinda are). Your brain wants you to get out of the situation safely. Once you’ve landed from your killer jump or hiked up that high mountain (and you're all safe,) you’re left excited, pumped with energy, and that feeling of ‘ahhhhhh!’ So doing some wild activities will get that blood rushing so you can feel on top of the world.

Self-care Experiences

Some of us need to learn to slow down and take some time out of our busy lives to give our minds a break. Some of the best experiences we can have are actually with ourselves. Find some relaxation in your life, and your mind will thank you. Relaxation allows your mind to reset and increases your Serotonin levels which ultimately helps with reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. By having an outdoorsy holiday in nature, a zen retreat, or pampering yourself at a spa getaway, your Serotonin will be getting its fix. You’ll be able to take on the week with a little calmness, no matter what life throws at you. We get pleasure by watching our fave influencers on social media, but those notifications give you a short burst of Serotonin that quickly goes, so your brain is constantly looking for more. So we give it more by scrolling through social media. But what your mind needs instead is some actual switch-off time to replenish your Serotonin which will make you feel revitalised. Our Wales Wellness retreat travel prize will give you the ultimate self-care experience you need to give your mind a relaxing trip away from your busy lives.

Trips with Friends

There are a ton of ways to help you with your overall mental well-being, such as exercise, sleep, and diet. But one of the keys to living a fuller and happier life is a sense of community and sharing experiences with others. Holidays and trips with friends, family, or even new people help us create stronger bonds. Plus, it’s always amazing to share experiences with others so you can reminisce about them for years to come (who doesn't love a private joke?). Ever had it when you’ve had a long and hard day, and then you have an epic weekend with your friends or a nice family weekend away that makes you feel a lot more grounded? We’re social animals at the end of the day, so human interaction is key to feeling happier and reducing stress from our daily lives. Taking a trip with our friends is a great way to explore the world, try something new and, to be honest, just have a laugh. Adventure with your bestie for a city break, epic adventure, or getting lost in nature.

New Countries & Cultures

We’re creatures of comfort, routine and familiarity. But what if we told you that getting out of your comfort zone and experiencing a new country can help with improving your memory, reducing your stress and increasing your creativity? If you want to deepen your thinking and understanding of the world, enrich yourself by exploring beautiful natural wonders, and learning how other cultures celebrate, socialise and go about their days. Our minds love learning new things, especially new perspectives on the world. By travelling out of your comfort zone, you will grow in confidence, self-esteem and, most importantly, your love for travel. Ever heard of the saying 'travel bug'? Well, it's your mind that's craving this. By listening to new music genres, practising your language skills, or taking part in unique celebrations in the world, you are making your mind very happy. Ultimately, you'll constantly crave to learn more about the world around you. So if you want to keep your mind happy and travel more, you can do that by winning the ultimate travel prize with DAYMADE (win, win, win!).

Food & Dining

Food, glorious food! It’s an exciting experience for our tastebuds, and pretty much all of our senses, that makes your mind go crazy (in a positive way). Every bite of something that you’ve never tried before (especially if it tastes unreal) gives you those sweet, feel-good chemicals of dopamine and serotonin. The beauty of eating is that this experience can be combined with other experiences. So eating with others, trying new food in new countries, and even taking a cooking class on your own can make sure your mind is getting all the good stuff in one experience. Plus, the experience of being wined and dined allows us to relax, and it just feels amazing to treat ourselves to gourmet dishes. Really fancy treating your tastebuds to a new experience? Our food tour of Asia is the holiday prize for you to eat your way through the best cuisine in South East Asia over 20 days.

Romantic Getaways

Going away with your loved one is the best way to reinforce your bond, and sharing experiences together makes you stronger. You both get to bring out the best in each other and challenge yourselves to new experiences, or just sit back and relax together. In this day and age, you’re both rushing off your feet to keep up with your busy work, social, and ‘me time’ schedules, and date nights can sometimes be pushed back. Going away together for a staycation in the countryside or whisking off for a romantic city break in a European country allows you to create memories to last a lifetime. Plus, it’s always better to have a laugh and share those moments together. The mind loves this because it’s part of our nature to feel loved and secure, and getting all romantic together definitely ticks all of those boxes.

Now you have a better understanding of how it all works, all you’ve got to do now is pick the experience to get whatever you want out of it all! You can mix these experiences up, so you’re giving your mind all that good stuff, trying something new, and sharing experiences together. Our experience and epic holiday prizes have a range of mental benefits to get your serotonin, adrenaline, and dopamine pumping. With our prizes, you can feel excited or relaxed, your taste buds popping as you bond with your fave people in your life.

Enter now for your chance to give your mind an experience of a lifetime.

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Published on 11/11/22