How can travelling improve mental wellbeing?
When work and everyday life begin to feel monotonous, it is very common to feel like upping sticks and setting off on a holiday.
That’s because, as human beings, we tend to crave new experiences, new scenery and a fresh outlook when things get too repetitive.
Indeed, completing the same tasks and seeing the same places everyday can leave us feeling uninspired and unmotivated, with a severe lack of excitement for all of life’s possibilities.
Travelling to new places can open our eyes to new cultures, enlighten us on different opinions and show us ways of living which are in stark contrast with our own. It allows us to grow in our knowledge of the world and, in so doing, truly develop as individuals.
Put smaller things into perspective
Sometimes, simply realising that there is more to the world than the troubles we face personally on a day to day basis can alleviate stress and significantly lift our mood.
And what better way to come to this realisation than visiting somewhere you have never been before and immersing yourself in its culture.
When we are stuck in the same routine, surrounded by the same people, it can be hard to see beyond the everyday dramas or upsets of our own lives.
By visiting new places and meeting new people, however, we are reminded of the sheer size of the planet and its population, which can help us put things into perspective and truly see the bigger picture.
Remember, there is a whole world outside your bubble.
Step back from work and revisit yourself
Taking a break from work to travel or even to go on a short holiday can be incredibly beneficial to your mental wellbeing.
When we are constantly concerned about our job and its daily demands, it can distract us from what it is that truly makes us happy, and who we really want to be.
We have all heard the clichéd phrase, “I found myself,” but that is essentially what can happen when we have the time and capacity to be at one with our thoughts and the space to reinvent, re-evaluate or revisit our own true identity.
As Patrick Rothfuss once wrote: “Travel is the great leveller, the great teacher, bitter as medicine, crueller than mirror-glass.
“A long stretch of road will teach you more about yourself than a hundred years of quiet introspection.”
Improve your resilience and self-esteem
By putting ourselves in an environment which is completely new, and where we must face challenges without home comforts or the help of familiar faces, we can grow in confidence and become far more resilient as individuals.
Overcoming an obstacle when far from home can feel like a huge achievement and create a true sense of pride.
Whether that obstacle is a cancelled flight, lost luggage or simply rescheduled plans due to weather, traveling teaches us to surrender ourselves to the uncontrollable and to become more flexible, empathetic
and patient.