NEWS
What Are the Awesome Benefits of Traveling?
Benefits of Traveling
The dawn of 2022 saw a dramatic rise in the number of people willing to travel again.
As the pandemic’s dangers slowly faded away, people started realizing the dreams of romantic Caribbean cruises or arduous Icelandic volcano hikes they had while in lockdown. So now that we’re able to jump on a plane and go (almost) anywhere once again, it’s time to consider whether the benefits of traveling are worth it.
After all, plane tickets still aren’t back to the pre-pandemic prices, and travel is generally a little more challenging.
Are you planning a trip abroad, or even just a road trip somewhere local? Read on to find out why it’s a great idea!
Taking a Trip Makes You Happy
Probably the best reason to travel is the scientifically proven fact that it makes you happier!
According to one pioneering study, few people regret the money they spend on experiential purchases. These purchases create a happiness factor that lasts longer and is more satisfying than what you get when you buy material items.
And you don’t even have to go far to see benefits. A Washington State University researcher found that people who regularly traveled no more than 70 or so miles from their homes reported higher happiness levels than those who stayed in.
The key is to travel often!
Boost Your Health
Whether you’re going from Miami to Bimini by ferry or jumping on a propeller plane to a remote tropical island in the South Pacific, the benefits of vacations on your health are the same.
Your overall well-being improves due to a decrease in your stress levels. After all, when you pack that bag, you leave behind all the worries of work and home life–at least for a short while.
And the research backs this up. For example, one study found that women who traveled more than once a year were less likely to suffer from heart problems.
You’re also more active while on vacation: swimming in the pool, browsing stores, or sightseeing. And that’s good for your whole body!
Pause and Recharge
If you’re like most people out there, you’re subject to the daily grind. Wake up, travel to and from work, make dinner, and go to bed–day in, day out.
While this isn’t always as dull as it sounds, it’s also nice to have a break. A reset does wonders for our mind and sense of self. So one of the most important travel tips is to remember to enjoy the break!
Try to spend time away from your smartphone (turn it off if you have to). Instead, get outside a lot, visit some museums, learn about the local culture of the place you’ve traveled to, and finally finish those books that have been sitting unopened on your bedside table!
Improve Your Communication Skills
If you’re into languages, one of the best places to visit is anywhere you can practice whatever language you’re trying to master! Immersing yourself in a culture is the fastest way to improve new language skills.
You’ll have to use the language to purchase things, eat, book accommodations, and much more. Hopefully, you’ll meet new friends who you can practice speaking with. Or head to a library to absorb the written word for free.
You can improve your general communication skills even if you don’t know the language of wherever you’re traveling. You’ll have to learn how to get what you need using visual communication queues like pointing and gesturing.
Get More Creative
If you’re already brimming with creativity, consider this when planning a vacation.
Look for locales that offer the opportunity to enhance your creativity. That might mean world-leading museums, well-preserved archeological sites, or colorful coral reefs.
Even if you don’t have a creative bone in your body, the new sights, tastes, smells, sounds, and colors of a city or country are bound to spark something.
If you aim to find what makes you feel creative, get adventurous in terms of where you choose to travel to. Bustling spots like India, Taiwan, and Egypt are incredibly inspiring.
Relieving Stress
Did you know that even a short vacation has the potential to reduce your stress levels dramatically? An Australian study found that you only need to take a trip of three days or less to impact your anxiety significantly.
What’s more, the effects last a long time–as much as 45 days after you come home!
Build Tolerance
When you travel, you don’t just see a bunch of places, take a bunch of photos, and be done with it.
When you go out to eat, you interact with the waitstaff. When you buy something from a store, you chat with the clerk. When you arrive at your hostel, you interact with other travelers and the local staff.
You’re constantly exposed to new people, cultures, religious practices, and much more. This builds a greater understanding of and tolerance for how others live their lives.
Take Advantage of the Benefits of Traveling
As you can see, the benefits of traveling far outweigh the negatives. In fact, there are only a few excuses you could make to avoid traveling!
Traveling expands your horizons by exposing you to new cultures, people, places, and things. It boosts your confidence by forcing you to navigate unfamiliar situations. And it can even make you healthier in body, mind, and spirit!
So what are you waiting for? Pack that suitcase or backpack and buy that plane ticket to one of your bucket list destinations today!
For more top travel tips and vacation advice, take a close look at the other articles on our website.
Kenneth is a proud native of sydney, born and raised there. However, he pursued his education abroad and studied in Australia. Kenneth has worked as a journalist for almost a decade, making valuable contributions to prominent publications such as Yahoo News and The Verge. Currently, he serves as a journalist for The Hear Up, where he focuses on covering climate and science news. You can reach Kenneth at [email protected].
