Traveling For Peace Of Mind: How Getting Away Can Be Good For Your Mental Health
With all the stresses we face on a daily basis, it’s no wonder many people start to feel burned out and uninspired. There’s a cure for these feelings.
Dealing with the same issues at work or at home every day can lead to feelings of anxiety and even depression if you aren’t careful, and those feelings can affect your job performance, your relationships, and your overall outlook on life.
One of the best ways to combat those feelings and break free of your stressors is to travel. Whether it’s on vacation to a different state or country or just a drive to the next city over, getting away from the everyday scenery will help you gain perspective and change your outlook. However, it’s even more than that; it’s also about learning to relax and focus on your well-being.
Traveling has many benefits to boost your mental and physical health; let’s take a look at just a few.
Travel can boost your creativity
There’s nothing better for a little writer’s block or a lack of inspiration than travel; that’s why so many creative people have used it for years to open up the floodgates and bring on the muse. Getting away from your usual surroundings and challenging yourself to explore, meet new people, and try new things can help you overcome just about any negative feelings you might have. Even if you don’t consider yourself to be a creative person, travel can bring it out of you; you may discover a talent or passion you didn’t even know you had.
Travel can reduce stress
As long as you’re well-prepared, traveling can help reduce your everyday stress levels and keep you happier. Getting away for a little while and putting everything behind you — literally — can refresh your mind, body, and soul and can help you feel in control of your life. Read what USNews.com had to say about travel and mental health.
Travel can make you healthier
Traveling can help you experience new foods and give you more opportunity to exercise daily, especially if you’re in a completely unfamiliar place that needs to be explored. Leaving behind your environment means leaving behind your habits, as well, and this can be a great time to drop the things that are unhealthy and take up something better. Trade in your daily soda intake for the water that will keep you going while you’re exploring a new city, or get involved in a new culture after battling substance abuse. For people in recovery, travel can be a completely life-changing and healing experience, in part because it affords you the chance for self-discovery. For more information on travel and recovery, refer to this helpful guide.
Travel can help you gain perspective
Sometimes, depression or just feeling low about our circumstances can cast a pall over every day, making it hard to get up and go to work or socialize. Getting away from the things you see and do every day and having brand-new experiences can help you gain perspective, especially if you travel to an area that is very different from where you live.
“When people view others in similar or worse situations, they tend to realize that their problems are no longer as daunting as they may have earlier believed. This greatly helps in reducing any stress or depression that may be lingering in the body,” says travel consultant Sarah Jensen.
Traveling these days doesn’t have to be outrageously expensive; look online for Groupons and other discounts on lodging and transportation if you don’t want to drive. Your AAA account may afford you discounts for hotels, so check there before making any plans. With a little planning and a positive attitude, traveling can help you push away the cobwebs and find a new lease on life.
Image adapted from Photo via Pixabay by Alexsander-777
Guest Author: Jamie Strand (SciCamps.org)
Jamie Strand is an unashamed nerd. He teaches community college and loves spending time with his two daughters. He wants to share his love of science and math with kids today and that’s why he and a friend got together to create Scicamps.org.