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Not being able to travel is officially taking an emotional toll on us

Almost half of us feel more anxious and stressed because we can’t travel right now, according to a survey

Ellie Walker-Arnott
Lipari, italy
Photograph: Shutterstock
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Fed up about the fact that all those holidays you thought you’d be going on this year have been postponed, disrupted or cancelled? Well, you’re definitely not alone if your lack of travel plans has left you feeling lower than you’d expect.

Apparently, not being able to travel the world right now has taken a huge ‘emotional toll’ on us.

According to a survey, a lack of travel has made 48 percent of us feel more anxious and stressed, while 78 percent of those polled said travelling was one of the activities they missed the most right now.

Despite the upset being caused by our inability to explore very far afield, the survey – Amex’s Trendex, which quizzed 2,000 people back in July – also revealed that only 10 percent of respondents had plans to travel at all before September. So basically, we’re also pretty nervous to get back out there in any shape or form, and, let’s be honest, it’s making us kind of miserable. 

All we can suggest is embracing a little daydreaming. A Cornell University study from 2014 found that the anticipation of an experience, such as a holiday, can substantially increase a person’s happiness, so why not start planning a dream trip – where you’ll go, and what you’ll eat, see and do – for when travel is possible again. Just hold off actually booking anything for now if the thought of having to reschedule or cancel plans again is going to make you more, not less, anxious. 

Need some ideas? Here are the most Instagrammed islands on the planet, the most beautiful places to visit in France and the dreamiest glamping spots in the US

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