We all know that vacations reduce stress. Just planning a vacation makes you happy, thanks to anticipatory consumption.

But the real magic is amplifying your creativity. Studies show that vacations increase cognitive flexibility - they help you combine more raw ideas.

What's behind this effect? It turns out that creativity has 3 key ingredients: a relaxed state of mind, freedom from distractions, and an influx of dopamine - all of which we get on vacation.

When you have time to indulge your hobbies - mountain biking, cross-stitch, video games - your brain can combine ideas in ways you least expect it. By taking a vacation, you increase your adaptability to learn and create in profound ways.