Who doesn’t enjoy a good trip to a city they’ve never been to? Traveling is a great motivation, as well as a source of joy, reflection and self-discovery. Traveling allows us to explore new climates and cultures, immerse ourselves in them and stimulate our minds.
Obviously, there are other people who prefer monotony and being comfortable at home. But the truth is that travel fever has been increasing in recent decades. Television, cinema and the Internet have opened a window for us to other parts of the world, unique places that catch our attention. This travel boom has also been influenced by the fact that prices have been falling, allowing more people to move around the globe.
There is extensive scientific literature around the psychological and emotional benefits of a good habit of traveling. Of course, some of these benefits may be quite intuitive, but It never hurts for science to investigate and discover the details that travel causes in our psyche
Science has spoken
Without going any further, a study that was published in the Journal of Positive Psychology discovered that the feeling of happiness is found in the record of memories and experiences relevant to us, and whose maximum expression is travel.
Other research indicates a clear correlation between being a traveler and longevity. Although this could be due to a socioeconomic factor (and therefore would be a spurious correlation), something like a traveler gene also seems to have been detected. The fact of traveling to different places on the planet is not in itself a factor that explains greater longevity, but the psychological benefits that the experiences acquired during travel do seem clear. These yes They can improve our quality of life and ultimately lengthen the number of days we live
Every type of trip is positive
When researchers talk about travel, they are very clear: all types of trips are positive for the psychological health of those who take them. From nearby destinations to trips to remote and exotic places, all trips can be a great source of emotional well-being It is not necessary to go very far, or spend a lot of money, or practice any specific activity: all trips “add up”.
However, and logically, there are trips that bring us much more interesting experiences than others. In any case, all the experiences we have outside the home can be very positive in stimulating our mind. Each person has preferences when it comes to adventures, and it depends on many factors, such as personality, age and other variables.
Requirements for a trip to change our lives
Many people confess to their friends, assuring them that a trip they took literally changed their lives. It is true, sometimes travel destroys many of our thinking patterns and makes us see beyond, opening us up to new worlds and possibilities that we did not even contemplate before.
Some of the requirements for a trip to be a kind of ‘reset’ of our mind are the following:
If you have ever had an existential crisis, you will have realized that sometimes we need a change in our daily dynamics. In this sense, traveling can help us regain faith in ourselves and even overcome bad times.
The 11 psychological benefits of traveling
Surely there are many more than eleven, but in today’s article we will list the 11 most important benefits of the good habit of traveling and seeing the world
1. Reduces stress and anxiety
Stress is the pandemic of the 19th century in Western countries The work demands, the rush and the frenetic pace of life cause us a latent discomfort that, sooner or later, manifests itself through stress symptoms. We can’t stop thinking about our obligations, tomorrow’s meetings or the job uncertainty that threatens us, and we forget to enjoy the present and the small pleasures of life.
However, when we embark on a trip, we disconnect from all these daily anxieties and we focus on living in the present relaxing in the pool, visiting paradisiacal beaches, being moved by the beauty of the landscapes… We focus on the moment and are not waiting for any meetings or fulfilling work routines.
To know more: “10 essential tips to reduce stress”
2. Boost your ability to solve problems
Throughout a trip, we force ourselves to leave our comfort zone and we must face certain situations and contexts that require greater involvement. You will live certain experiences in which you will have to make decisions and solve problems
It is likely that you will get lost on streets you don’t know, that you will go to places with just enough time and that you will have to communicate with natives who do not speak your language. In short, throughout the odyssey you will have to solve various problems and complicated situations that will arise, and this will help you improve this ability.
3. Increase your communication and social skills
If you have always wanted to meet new people and make friends, You should keep in mind that traveling gives you the best opportunity to connect with other people Being in an unknown place, it is very likely that you will be encouraged to talk to people and thus develop your social skills.
Don’t worry if during the first few days you find it a little difficult to talk to people you meet along the way. Once you have overcome the scenic environment, you will surely be able to meet exceptional people who will give meaning to your experience. Until You may make friends and come back after a while to visit them or receive them in your own home.
Recommended article: “Guide to meeting new people: places, skills and tips”
4. Open your mind and broaden your horizons
Traveling is the best solution to get rid of stereotypes and prejudices. In fact, one often hears that “traveling is the best cure for racism.” Prejudices make us feel suspicious of people for irrational reasons and they take us away from the possibility of connecting with new people.
When we are on an expedition to a new culture, We will realize that some of these thoughts were not founded We will discover new people and customs that deserve our appreciation, helping us to open our minds and relate in a kinder way to all types of people.
5. Promotes self-discovery
Taking an exciting trip is the best way to get to know yourself. We temporarily abandon our daily context and visit a totally different environment, which It can help us gain perspective about who we are and what we want in life
Furthermore, traveling can give us a new approach to life, discovering things that we didn’t know we liked.
6. It makes you happier
The experiences we live during trips make us secrete different happiness hormones, such as endorphins. When we are away from home we forget about work and family worries and obligations. During a trip we do activities that we like and that encourage us to interact with other people
All this plays in favor of our psychological well-being.
7. It keeps you away from fear and insecurities
Fear is a sensation that paralyzes us. And, as many experts say, the best way to overcome fears is to face them. Once we become aware that fears are only in our heads, little by little we are relativizing them and banishing them
Surely, before embarking on a trip to a distant and unknown destination, you have fears and insecurities such as: “Am I going to feel alone?” And even, depending on the destination you choose, you may feel that you risk being robbed on the street or not being able to understand people if you have any problems.
The reality is that exposing ourselves to fears is the best way to overcome them Many people have gone on a trip before and only a minority have something serious happen to them. Give yourself the opportunity to get to know a new culture and you will overcome your insecurities.
8. It makes you rethink many things
Spending time away from home can broaden your way of seeing things and life in general. Your priorities may change, and from now on you give less importance to material things and value more other things that you didn’t value before.
9. Helps you be more empathetic
Change context and immerse yourself in a new city and a hitherto unknown culture offers you the possibility of relativizing your daily problems and putting yourself in the shoes of other people who, perhaps, have a much more complicated life than yours.
This can help you be more empathetic and able to appreciate that other people may have different value systems.
10. You learn constantly
Live unique experiences in environments different from those we are used to They provide us with learning and knowledge that improves us as people It gives us another vision about things, about relationships, about religion, about the way in which different cultures approach life.
Furthermore, the habit of traveling provides us with the tools so that we can question our daily lives and our most deeply rooted values. Knowing new things enhances skills and abilities that we had latent and develops our critical spirit.
11. Develop your vision of things and broaden horizons
Travel and discover new countries and cultures broadens our vision of society It makes us more respectful and flexible, since we learn to value the needs and thinking patterns of the people we know.
