My earliest memories of traveling date far back to the late 2000s.
One of the quickest things I learned about traveling is that it had a huge impact on my mental health. You’ll be surprised by how much your life and general mood could be affected just by booking that trip you’ve always dreamed about.
Here are 5 ways in which travelling could positively affect your mind:
1. Travelling helps you unwind
Every adult goes through some level of stress resulting from different things ranging from work to relationships. Sometimes your routines inevitably make you feel stuck in a maze. All you really need is a weekend away in a different environment to clear your head. Trust me, it works better than any drug out there. You’ll always return to your normal life feeling more inspired and happy as opposed to feeling burnt out.
2. Getting in touch with yourself
I’ve always had my best reflections on my travels. It’s crazy how a simple flight or train ride could give you so much perspective on the life you live on a daily basis. There’s so much to learn about yourself when you travel. Exploring some places either give you reason to be grateful for who and what you already have, or to make you more ambitious to live a life you’ve always dreamed about. These give you so much insight into who you are and what you want out of your life.
3. Increased dopamine levels
You know the excitement you feel days before your flight with your friends to the Dominican Republic, the feeling like you’re on top of the world when you arrive and the need to repeat that experience when you leave, that’s your brain releasing dopamine. Everything about travelling boosts your dopamine levels, from the anticipation weeks before you take off to the vibrant views and foreign cuisines. The “Tourism Analysis” journal conducted a survey on 500 Taiwanese adults. The survey found a 7% increase in overall life satisfaction compared to those who traveled less frequently. Even the minimum activities like meeting new people or going to a market feel so fulfilling when you’re a hundred miles away from home.
4. Increases creativity
Exploring new places can always help in boosting your creative process. Our creative talents get stifled sometimes and changing your routine could always bring a new spark. I believe in keeping a travel journal on hand. It helps with recording memories and putting our imaginations to life.
5. Brings peace
We’ve all felt stressed or anxious at different points in life, and what we crave more than anything else in these moments is peace. Travelling sometimes places you closer to nature, and unconsciously soothes your eyes and mind. Even in our saddest moments, exploring new worlds can help forget the past, and make peace with it.