Although it’s not always good for your physical health, traveling can help improve your emotional well-being. Numerous studies have shown that experiencing new places can help people feel better about themselves.
Getting away from the daily grind can help people feel better. According to Dr. Tamara McClintock Greenberg, a clinical psychologist based in San Francisco, the stress of work can often distract people from what they’re actually interested in. This is why taking a break from the hustle and bustle is important to keep your mind focused on the positive.
A 2013 study revealed that people who traveled experienced significant drops in their stress levels after just a couple of days. According to one of the study’s participants, travel blogger and avid traveler, Jacintha Verdegaal, she is the most calm and relaxed individual when she is away. Even though she is always busy, she says that she is the most peaceful and relaxed when she is traveling.
According to Patrick Rothfuss, a writer, traveling can help people develop a deeper understanding of themselves. He noted that a long road can teach one more about themselves than a hundred years of quiet. Experiential travel, specifically to a foreign country, can also help people re-evaluate their life and find new ways to connect with themselves. According to Valerie Wilson, a travel expert and founder of The Trusted Travel Girl, allowing oneself to explore new places can allow one to expand their mind in ways they never thought possible.
The valuable lessons that traveling can provide people can help them develop a deeper understanding of themselves. According to Verdegaal, she enjoys traveling to places that are different from herself due to the chance to think about her own values and principles. Although it’s not always better to be in a different culture, being exposed to different values and principles can help her re-evaluate her own beliefs.
If people are going through a major transition in their lives, traveling can help them start afresh. According to Wilson, she lost a lot of her self-confidence after she was diagnosed with Lyme disease. She started traveling to try and find new ways to connect with herself. She says that by traveling, she was able to connect with the world around her.
Aside from being able to get away from the daily grind, traveling can also help people feel satisfied and happy. According to Wilson, it can help people develop a new outlook on life and improve their self-confidence. One of the most important factors that people can consider when it comes to traveling is the chance to experience new experiences.
According to Marta Estevez, a travel enthusiast, people are not meant to be tied down to one location. Instead, they should be able to explore new places and meet new people. She also said that she often feels trapped when she has to stay in the same place for too long.
Wilson also said that traveling can help people feel happy and fulfilled. According to her, planning a trip can help people feel like they have something to look forward to. A study conducted by Cornell University revealed that the anticipation of a trip can significantly increase a person’s happiness.
Adam Galinsky, a professor of business at Columbia Business School, said that traveling can also help people improve their creativity. He noted that by immersing yourself in a different culture and experiencing new experiences, people can develop a stronger cognitive flexibility.
According to Galinsky, traveling can also help people develop a deeper understanding of their thoughts. It can additionally help them improve their creativity by allowing them to connect with the local culture. Although it’s important to note that creativity can only be stimulated by immersing yourself in the culture of the place where you are staying.
As a therapist, Greenberg encourages people to hold on to the positive aspects of their vacations or experiences. For instance, if they enjoyed the food in Paris, she said that they can learn how to make French food to recreate some of the feelings they experienced during their trip.
One of the most effective behavioral interventions that people can use to improve their creativity is to remember the peaceful moments that they had during their vacation. According to Galinsky, it’s important to remember to take the time to eat breakfast, exercise, and talk about what was different from what’s happening in your life.
After reading about all the positive effects of traveling, it’s time to pack your bags and start planning your next trip.