Dr Arthur Brooks
@drarthurbrooks·326K subscribers·364 videos
9 Rules for a Happier Vacation
Posted
June 15, 2026
Views
89,462
Likes
2,148
Comments
126
Engagement
2.54%
June 15, 2026
89,462
2,148
126
2.54%
Every word spoken in this episode is indexed. Type any phrase to jump straight to the moment it was said.
Type any word or phrase that may have been spoken. Click a result to seek the player to that exact moment.
Try a name, a topic, or a quoted line
42:25Now PlayingMany people come home from vacation feeling disappointed. Not because the trip was bad, but because they expected it to do more than any vacation possibly can.
In my previous episode on I discussed its importance to happiness and wellbeing. A vacation, done well, is really an opportunity to practice leisure more intentionallywhether that means a chance to reconnect with the people you love, lose yourself in nature or culture or read a book you've been meaning to for three years.
In this episode of Office Hours, I share nine research-backed protocols that can help you return from time away feeling happier, more fulfilled, and genuinely restored. We discuss why anticipation is one of the most enjoyable parts of any trip, why shorter vacations may be better than longer ones, and how taking too many photos or posting on social media can pull you out of the very experience you're trying to enjoy.
*Brought to you by:*
• Noble MobileWith Noble, there is only one planThe NoBull Plan. It’s simple. It’s transparent. And if you use less data, you get cash back. Get an exclusive offer at
*Where to find Arthur Brooks:*
• Inperson Retreats
• Newsletter
• Email: officehours@arthurbrooks.com
*Timestamps:*
(00:00) Intro
(06:08) America's culture of skipping vacations
(10:57) Vacation rule #1: Discern your motive
(15:24) Vacation rule #2: Savor the anticipation
(21:13) Vacation rule #3: Manage your expectations
(23:32) Vacation rule #4: Break your trip into vacation-ettes
(25:45) Vacation rule #5: Take fewer pictures
(28:48) Vacation rule #6: Don’t post
(30:43) Vacation rule #7: Leave work at home
(32:37) Vacation rule #8: Come home early
(34:00) Vacation rule #9: Brace yourself when you return
(35:50) Recap of the 9 vacation rules
(38:02) Q&A: Is music a distraction?
(39:57) Q&A: Using screens during meals and before sleep
*Referenced:*
• The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness: themeaningofyourlife.com
• Meaning Membership
• Arthur’s newsletter
• The Happiness Scale
• The Pursuit of Happiness with Arthur Brooks
• The Meaning of Your Life Retreats
• The Science Behind Being Good at Leisure
• 41% of American Workers Let Paid Vacation Days Go to Waste
• The Contribution of Vacations to Quality of Life
• ...References continued at
Production and marketing by
Sentinel Indexing in Progress
Metadata and chapters are available. Claim extraction for this episode is pending.
All video content is delivered via YouTube embedded players in accordance with the YouTube Terms of Service. Sentinel provides research tools that promote discovery and accountability across political media.
