For many, the concept of traveling brings about a burst of excitement and energy. The very idea of visiting someplace new is enough to spark our brains into action. Although most people would think of traveling as a time to let loose and relax on the beach, there are so many more benefits and attributes than that. From hopping in the car and driving for a couple hours, to flying overnight in an airplane, experience and memory awaits.
Although some seek an anchored life and the familiarity of home, a great deal of people find comfort in the thought of a life on the move. A study by Chun-Chu Chen, about the long term effects of traveling on emotional and physical health, showed that people who regularly travel over 75 miles away from their home are seven percent happier than those who rarely travel. Overall, going on any type of adventure can increase your happiness.
Traveling can also provide opportunities to create new relationships, establish a healthy, happy life style, expand knowledge by going outside of your comfort zone and develop respect and knowledge for alternate cultures or customs.
Creating new relationships is a fundamental part of maintaining a happy life. According to mayoclinic.org, new friendships and relationships can boost confidence and self worth. While traveling, the opportunity to meet new people is abundant. From striking up a conversation with a tour guide, to asking directions from a local, the possibilities are endless. On the contrary, isolating yourself can do more harm than good for most. Dr. Robert Waldinger, a psychiatrist and director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, explained this in a TED Talk done in 2015. “‘People who are more isolated than they want to be from others find that they are less happy, their health declines earlier in midlife, their brain functioning declines sooner and they live shorter lives than people who are not lonely,’” he said. Overall, even the possibility of meeting new people is good for you. Creating small talk with strangers can boost social skills that may help with jobs or interactions in the future.
Another core benefit of traveling is the inevitable chance to establish a healthy lifestyle. Vacation is a time to try new things like hiking, or doing certain activities that can only be done in the specific place you’re visiting. For example, surfing at the beach. Of course, you should always maintain a strong balance between relaxing and doing physical activity because, like many know, traveling can be stressful sometimes considering all the planning and payments. One example of travel increasing physical health can be found in breaks from school curricular or job workplaces. An average person may take around two vacations throughout a school year. Most of these vacations occur on planned breaks like spring break. Going from sitting at school all day to exploring new places can obviously promote more physical activity which, in turn, will replenish your body’s well-being. Aside from the physical benefits, mental health can greatly increase as well.
In recent years, mental health has become an increasingly common problem. With social media influencing those who are on it, taking breaks is vital for people to recharge and recuperate. By going on periodic trips, you are allowing yourself to take a break from your phone and explore somewhere new. Traveling can encourage new routines which will further increase creativity and reduce stress. Vacation can diminish stress further by deceiving our brains into thinking that we are far away from what would normally put us in a place of distress. In a Harvard Business Review (hbr.org) article by Rebecca Zucker, the benefits of vacationing are explained: “Several studies indicate that performance nose-dives when we work for extended periods without a break. In addition, the benefits of taking a vacation are clear: It results in improved productivity, lower stress and better overall mental health.” Separate perks include expanding knowledge by going outside of your comfort zone.
Studies have proven that going outside your comfort zone can expand a growth mindset and help people develop more understanding of certain subjects. By traveling often you can go outside of that circle of comfort by talking to new people, as well as going someplace new in general. Traveling to destinations that speak different languages than you are used to is another important factor in going out of your comfort zone while traveling. It can force you to learn a new language and speak to people who you wouldn’t otherwise. It also teaches the importance of nonverbal communication, which, for some people, can be intimidating. According to Santriani Bohar, a writer for havehalalwilltravel.com, using different mannerisms can be just as effective as words: “Gestures, smiles, and touch are all ways of communicating that are just as important [as words], but that we often neglect in favor of choosing the right words.”
While, yes, vacation can be a period that many feel needs to be spent to its fullest, you should also take time to relax and take a real break from a stressful life back home. Traveling has so many benefits concerning physical health, mental health, education and lifestyle. So, the next time you find yourself wondering if you should take a vacation or not, think about the experiences and advantages you will meet.
