A new year is always a synonym of new travels. How many of us have already started dreaming about the places we want to visit or thinking about the adventures we want to experience this year? According to Health and Society Scholar Matthew Killingsworth, not only do we “spend a lot of our mental lives living in the future” but also “our future-mindedness can be a source of joy if we know good things are coming (…).” As such, traveling is a great experience to look forward to and it can definitely help boost your mental health. This is how:
1. Traveling reduces stress levels and promotes happiness.
Whether you feel anxious or just stressed about your job or studies, travel can be an opportunity to step away from that daily grind. Being in a foreign environment not only allows you to free your mind, but also helps your body to feel more comfortable and relaxed. Experts affirm that just the process of thinking about a new adventure can raise your spirit, once it gives you a plan to look forward to. We are still living under the constraints of a worldwide pandemic, so you don’t need to book a flight somewhere you might feel insecure and therefore anxious. Just stepping out of your daily routine towards some relaxing beautiful place near you can be extraordinary.
2. Traveling grants you a sense of belonging and achievement.
Through the experience of traveling, you can meet new people, make new friends, learn a new language and just absorb the culture of the country you are visiting. Acknowledging that you are a part of a community of people that share the same interests, like traveling or music – or both, if you take me for example – makes you feel like you belong. Besides that, you really feel proud of yourself when you achieve something you had not planned to, either if it is to speak the country’s language to unravel yourself in an odd situation, to find the right path to your destination or even just to fly on your own. Both the feelings of belonging and achievement can really improve your mental health status as well as your self-esteem.
3. Traveling improves your creativity and it expands your mind.
When you allow yourself to meet and immerse in a new culture, you are opening your mind to new ideas and different perspectives from the ones you acknowledged. That way, you are not only expanding your way of thinking but also your empathy for the world around you as well as your problem-solving skills. All that will consequently boost your creativity. If you are feeling happier, more relaxed and clear headed, you are more likely to be extra productive in your personal and professional life.
We all know that looking after our mental health should always be made a priority. Sometimes all we need is a break from our daily stressful routines and a trip somewhere of our interest. That may not only allow us to experience something out of the ordinary but may also bring great benefits to our mental health. With that being said, have you chosen your next destination yet?
ROARA Magazine 