The Surprising Links Between Travel and Better Health

By Stacie Rose | As seen in BC THE MAG

Ever take a trip and realize how badly you needed a change of scenery, a rest, adventure, some perspective, time away to think, to explore, to figure something out, or to just roam this beautiful world? There are distinct connections between travel and wellbeing. Many of us are living in a state of perpetual burnout. There is certainly something we can do in our day-to-day to manage stress and overwhelm, real tools that are simple, useful and easy, like getting more sleep, practicing mindfulness like meditation, getting enough hydration and exercise and carving out downtime. But sometimes the thing that really does the trick is getting out of town, off the grid or at the very least -off duty! (cue the gone fishing sign)

Stress Busting

People often say, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” Or “” the laundry isn’t going anywhere.” In other words, all the challenges, lists and piles of stuff and things we obsess over are there should we want to deal with them later. I mean how productive do we really want to be?!? Traveling can help us reboot and restore our energy banks making things easier to manage when we return. When everything suddenly feels like too much, it may be time to switch it up and give yourself a break from the “hamster wheel” the minutia, the conveyer belt.

Truthfully, life is what you make it, and it need not feel so monotonous, but when it begins to feel too stress-- sometimes the best gift you can give yourself is some restorative time away. Our nervous systems need rest and repair. Being in a state of heightened stress or fight or flight could be causing you more trouble physically and mentally than you even know. Getting away gives you the opportunity to exhale and step away from emails, phone calls and daily details that feel too much. You are allowed to take time for yourself or with friends or loved ones. Life is complex, and travel can help you simplify and focus on just being. And we have learned that presence is paramount to a deeper sense of wellbeing.

Personal Growth

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”― Marcel Proust

Travelling can help you be introspective, branch out, and learn. Sometimes we grow the most rapidly when we travel. There’s so much we can learn about others and ourselves when we step outside of our daily lives and comfort zones. Keeping an open mind and open heart allows us to breathe in new sights and sounds, to taste new flavors, meet new people and to expand our minds. Personal Growth contributes to emotional well-being. Stagnating doesn’t feel good, but exploring and understanding more about others and the kind of life we want to cultivate is a built-in perk of traveling and intensely gratifying.

Gratitude

Sometimes it takes some time away from home to realize the blessings in your life. Ever feel that when you return from a wonderful trip, you are so happy and content to be home?  For many, there’s no place like home. But sometimes you must travel a million miles and have many adventures to realize how lucky you are. Gratitude is very fortifying. It helps us to stay grounded and healthy. It creates a feeling of calm and serenity. Gratitude can be a mood enhancer and help support emotional well-being. Joy of travel and all the beautiful experiences along the way, as well as the love of coming home, can give your gratitude and your health a huge boost.

“I think you travel to search, and you come back home to find yourself there.”― Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Compassion and Empathy

Sometimes when we travel, we get to realize how others live. Many are content with far less. It’s easy to complain about trivial things, but when we travel, we see some of the larger challenges people in other places face. There are political issues all around: food insecurity, a sense of scarcity, a lack of safety, and the list goes on. Understanding what others are up against helps build compassion and empathy within ourselves and our children. Compassion and empathy are cornerstones to living a joyful and purposeful life. Having new experiences helps us build these resources over time. Travel is a beautiful way to bring these human characteristics to life.  

Creativity

Creativity can be incredibly healing. But where do these bright ideas come from? We are lucky if they just fall out of the sky. But sometimes we need to seek new opportunities, new horizons and exciting moments that will spark that creativity. Traveling is a surefire way to stir the senses, awaken the heart and mind and to help conjure up new ideas. Creativity is a way we can better understand and express ourselves and help others understand us. Peering out into the ocean, viewing a skyscape painted with stars, trying something brand new, jumping into cool water, witnessing animals in their natural habitat, signing up for a restorative class or spa weekend, or viewing transformative art are things that thrill us, capture our imagination and act as a catalyst for creativity.

“To travel is to live.”― Hans Christian Andersen

Resilience

One of the things that not only builds character but also helps us every day of our lives is grit! Life can be beautiful and wonderful –and it can also be chock-full of challenges. Nothing builds resilience quite like travel. When you venture out you must be fluid. As prepared as you may be-- obstacles will arise. Things don’t always go according to plan. We are constantly scanning and recalibrating when we travel because we are out of our ordinary element, which can be great. But this means we need to be ready to figure out how to navigate the next situation. Even the smoothest getaways usually have some surprises. Being able to regroup, when necessary, scrap the plan and fashion a new one are things that make us feel more agile and capable. These skills and feelings of self-assurance and self-efficacy spill over into our jobs, relationships, our parenting and the way we see ourselves. Travel is a spectacular way to build strength within and to support the expansion of emotional intelligence.

Perhaps your desire for travel is merely for the sport of it all. Or maybe you haven’t given much thought to the benefits one way or the other. But if you are debating about whether to take a trip, consider your current state of mind and physical health. Plan the kind of travel that fits your style, needs, challenges, budget, and desire to explore or rest. Whether it’s an historical, trip and arty one, travel by land, sea or sky, for a weekend or a month, whether it’s resorts, camping or visiting friends or family, a noisy road trip or first class and four seasons-- one thing to keep in mind is to enjoy the journey as much as the destination and to be kind to yourself and fellow travelers. Our precious lives our meant to be lived. Traveling is a glorious way to fill your cup and fortify your health while you’re at it.

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." – Helen Keller

Happy Trails-and Safe travels…

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