The recipe for a great vacation is fond memories that contribute to making you happy. A great vacation can be a source of happiness. But as psychologists discover more about how the human brain works, we're gaining insight into exactly how to crank up the pleasure factor - and why you should do it. Here are some strategies to experience a great vacation get bliss from your precious vacation days and come back without needing a vacation from your vacation.

The recipe for a great vacation is to experience more, experience new situations on vacation

Anticipation is a big part of human happiness. One study of vacationers found (no surprise) that they were happier than people who didn't go, but almost all of that increase in happiness came before the vacation itself. When you think about the fun you're going to have, you feel the same joy that the mere experience of experiencing more on vacation will bring. The difference is that it can last much longer. So choose your vacation dates well in advance and relish thinking about what you will be doing.

The recipe for a great vacation is many, different trips instead of "once in a lifetime" trips

A once in a lifetime trip, like a month in Kenya, would be amazing. But the "once in a lifetime" aspect of such vacations limits their overall contribution to happiness. Research increasingly shows that we return to our previous level of happiness (we spend our lives on the "hedonic treadmill") fairly quickly. Smaller pleasures experienced frequently contribute more to overall well-being than larger but less frequent ones.

Another study found that the health and well-being benefits of a great vacation peak after about eight days. So look for shortened work weeks for getaways today so you can plan several multi-day vacations (weekend plus work week plus weekend) a year for the cost of three to four vacation days.

The recipe for a great vacation is to get out of your comfort zone

When you were 8 years old, summer seemed to last forever. More days and weeks went by, and you had a vacation. Now, not so much. So how do you make time slow down? For an 8-year-old, everything is new and time moves slowly as the brain processes all these new adventures. Adults stick to a routine. Vacations are a great opportunity to consciously plan new experiences. Get out of your comfort zone, experience more. Whether it's kayaking, riding a train through the rainforest, learning to make cheese, whatever.

The recipe for a great vacation is not just doing things and not doing nothing

Researchers who asked people to report their mood throughout the day found that they are happiest when they are relaxing, meeting people, exercising, doing spiritual activities, and eating (oh, and when they are engaged in "intimate relationships" as well). Around their adventures, have time for meals, some, reading, contemplation and connecting with people who are traveling.

The recipe for a great vacation focus on activities that make you happy

Do activities you enjoy, pay others to do the rest. It's funny because it's true, and unfortunately, it's a recipe for feeling good during the vacations. House cleaning and babysitting are inevitable if you have young children. Bring your grandmother along to ensure she has time to spend with your grandchildren, or budget for a babysitter at a hotel while you take care of yourself.

If you're vacationing in a group and sharing a house, you can raise money to hire someone to cook and wash dishes for a few nights. Even if it is just a small family. You can make arrangements to order food from caterers. So that everyone has time to do it. What they like, what makes them happy.

Recipe for a great vacation manage activities

Some people believe that happiness comes from not doing any work during the vacations. The key is how much control you have over the situation. If you're taking calls because your boss is forcing you to, this will be a source of tension. But if you work for yourself or otherwise have autonomy in your schedule, and want to do a half hour of work each morning before the rest of your family wakes up, there's nothing wrong with that.

Just do it, and then don't use your inbox until the next morning. The vacations are a great way to think about career issues in a broad context. Consider what projects would be good for you to tackle in the future when you return home.

The recipe for a great vacation is good, meaningful memories

The human brain attaches more importance to things that happened last in a series. This so-called "recovery effect" means that the end of the vacation is easier to recall than the beginning. Use this effect to consciously end the vacations with a bang. An event that will live long in the memory. If you're only going to upgrade once, opt for a business class seat on the way home, not on the way to your vacation. Plan your big dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant for the last night, not the first.

The recipe for a great vacation is to manage your return from vacation

In an effort to squeeze every last drop of vacation time, you return late on Sunday night. This can make Monday morning feel even more tired than usual. If you hate that hectic feeling, then come back on Saturday or in the middle of the day on Sunday so you can check on what urgent things happened while you were away, buy groceries and do laundry.

Indulge yourself by planning something fun for Monday night. A quick drink with a friend after work gives you something to look forward to during what can be a tough first day back at work after the vacations.

The recipe for a great vacation is to make history

Memories take shape over time when you decide to tell them. To make sure you remember your vacation as something positive, tell your friends your fun and enjoyable anecdotes.

Show beautiful pictures. The more often you say: "I had the best vacation of my life", the more it will become true. Have a great vacation!