Winter is coming.
As we approach the darkest day of the year, December 21, you may be dreaming of trading in the seasonal blue for the blue of the Caribbean.
But while fun in the sun can be a welcome break during the colder months, there's an art to mood-enhancing getaways—beyond just flying to the tropics for a dose of vitamin D that doesn't take long. not present in the form of capsules, a behavior suggests the expert.
Rather than just looking for a warm place to relax, look for destinations that maximize joy and happiness, said clinical psychologist Dr. Gurpreet Kaur, who partnered with Scenic Cruises to find places that not only offer scenery sunny, but which also give rise to a surge of positive energy.
Using a variety of measures that might not immediately seem related to each other, Kaur and the researchers found a list of travel spots that might boost dopaminecommonly known as the “feel-good hormone”, to improve the general mood of travelers as the annual dark periods approach.
Sunny days per year, food, walkability, air quality and abundance of lush green spaces were all taken into consideration.
“Exposure to sunlight naturally increases dopamine levels, while quality cuisine provides essential nutrients and pleasure. Walking reduces cortisol, helping to regulate dopamine, and clean air improves brain function,” Dr. Kaur told The Express.
“Studies have also shown that green spaces encourage mindfulness, which helps increase dopamine. »
“Together, these elements create destinations that refresh and elevate the mood.”
In ascending order, here are the ten picks of the pros.
10. Oslo, Norway
Annual sunshine hours – 1,668
Air quality PM2.5 (μg/m3) – 9
Quality of green spaces (Out of 100) – 86
Avg. Google rating of the restaurant (out of 5) – 4.5
Walkability score (out of 100) – 68
Overall rating (out of 100) – 79
9. Vancouver, British Columbia
Annual sunshine hours – 1,938
Air quality PM2.5 (μg/m3) – 7
Quality of green spaces (Out of 100) – 85
Avg. Google rating of the restaurant (out of 5) – 4.5
Walkability score (out of 100) – 56
Overall rating (out of 100) – 90
8.Liverpool, England
Annual sunshine hours – 1,507
Air quality PM2.5 (μg/m3) – 8
Quality of green spaces (Out of 100) – 80
Avg. Google rating of the restaurant (out of 5) – 4.5
Walkability score (out of 100) – 56
Overall rating (out of 100) – 90
7. Malaga, Spain
Annual sunshine hours – 2,919
Air quality PM2.5 (μg/m3) – 17
Quality of green spaces (Out of 100) – 69
Avg. Google rating of the restaurant (out of 5) – 4.5
Walkability score (out of 100) – 76
Overall rating (out of 100) – 93
6. Cadiz, Spain
Annual sunshine hours – 3,024
Air quality PM2.5 (μg/m3) – 18
Quality of green spaces (Out of 100) – 56
Avg. Google rating of the restaurant (out of 5) – 4.5
Walkability Score (out of 100) – 95
Overall rating (out of 100) – 94
5. Lisbon
Annual sunshine hours – 2,806
Air quality PM2.5 (μg/m3) – 12
Quality of green spaces (Out of 100) – 68
Avg. Google rating of the restaurant (out of 5) – 4.6
Walkability score (out of 100) – 64
Overall rating (out of 100) – 95
4. New Orleans
Annual sunshine hours – 2,649
Air quality PM2.5 (μg/m3) – 8
Quality of green spaces (Out of 100) – 78
Avg. Google rating of the restaurant (out of 5) – 4.5
Walkability score (out of 100) – 65
Overall rating (out of 100) – 96
3. Tallinn
Annual sunshine hours – 1,923
Air quality PM2.5 (μg/m3) – 5
Quality of green spaces (Out of 100) – 77
Avg. Google rating of the restaurant (out of 5) – 4.6
Walkability score (out of 100) – 78
Overall rating (out of 100) – 97
2. Amsterdam
Annual sunshine hours – 1,662
Air quality PM2.5 (μg/m3) – 13
Quality of green spaces (Out of 100) – 84
Avg. Google rating of the restaurant (out of 5) – 4.6
Walkability score (out of 100) – 85
Overall rating (out of 100) – 98
1. Divide
Annual sunshine hours – 2,631
Air quality PM2.5 (μg/m3) – 10
Quality of green spaces (Out of 100) – 58
Avg. Google rating of the restaurant (out of 5) – 4.7
Walkability score (out of 100) – 97
Overall rating (out of 100) – 100
