Travel More: Your health will thank you
Have you ever wondered why people who seem to travel often are happier, live more balanced lives, and are a little healthier than most non-travelers? It’s simple, traveling has been proven to lead to better health. There are at least five reasons that have been proven to improve your health through travel.
Exposure in New Environments and the Elimination/Reduction of Stress
According to Dr. Margaret J. King, the director of the Center for Cultural Studies & Analysis, “There are lots of psychological benefits from change of venue from home and work to ‘third places’ devoted to just experiencing the environment. With a short list of activities each day, as does the body, with stress relief the main outcome. Humans thrive on novelty, and travel offers the complete package with new faces, sounds and sights.” In other words, when we get out and explore new places, the mind is triggered and it reduces our stress levels by the experience of the unfamiliar.
Get in Shape
When you are on vacation you walk more, you do more adventurous activities, swim, hike, or bike. All of this helps with your fitness and boosts your endorphins helping you burn more calories on vacation than you would sitting at home on the couch, watching the next episode of ‘Insecure’ with your chips and dip.
Your Body gets actual REST
Little sleep, mixed with high levels of anxiety and stress (due to a customer on the phone at this call-center refusing to cooperate), will and can lead to irritability and negative consequences on your mental performance and competence. The chairman of the board of the National Sleep Foundation, Max Hirshkowitz says, “A vacation is a great opportunity to catch up on sleep.” After all, a new environment and all of the exercising you did while sight-seeing will relax your body, allowing you to fall into a sleep haven, when you return to the hotel. Especially, after a nice, hot shower, you’ll have no choice but to get into that comfy bed and fall fast asleep.
You Recharge Emotionally and Increase Empathy
According to Wallace J. Nichols, author of “Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What you Do.” Vacationing, especially near the water, can help reset our emotions and actually increase compassion. Water is often associated with the feelings of awe and wonder which can boost our empathy and compassion, our connection to ourselves and those we are with.
Improves your brain health
Travel expands your mind. You meet new people. You adapt to new situations. You become more globally and culturally aware. New experiences increase your mental flexibility, keeping your mind sharp. Studies show that the connection between travel and creativity creates a deeper sense of cultural awareness and personal growth. Those who travel and study abroad tend to be more open and emotionally stable.
So are you convinced on why you should travel more now? Go for it! Book a vacation away from home for a few days and watch the stress leave your body. Your body and mind will become more relaxed; get some exercise and fall in love with new places and new people you never knew before. Your Health will thank you for the vacation.