“For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Travel is good for mind and body health because it keep us moving and active. Our quality of life is very dependent on our quality of health. What could be better than maintaining both along with incorporating new experiences and adventures? To maintain these requires exercise and stretching, and you must feed both the right materials for growth. Travel helps with all these things.
In fact, the US Travel Association survey stats that, “Travellers are significantly more satisfied in their overall outlook on life compared to non-travellers.”
Let’s explore how travel is good for the mind.
- Travel presents new perspectives, which creates new connections and pathways in the brain. It provides a hands on experience with people and cultures and can change the perspective you’ve seen through various forms of media.
- You meet new people and form new relationships based on unfamiliar foundations when you travel. Some of these relationships become the most valued as they build on a mutual experience.
- You try new tasks and develop new skills. There is no adventure in doing day to day shores but after zip-lining over a jungle canopy your mind will be open to new opportunities.
- You will expand your sensory experience through new sights, sounds, smells and tastes.
- Travelling provides a source of education and learning. A few phrases, like Hello or please and thank you in a foreign language are not only challenging for your brain but very satisfying as well.
Travel also has benefits for your body.
- You will walk more when on holiday and spend more time outside, and much less time in front of electronics.
- Travel is a great de-stressor. It takes you out of the day to day routine and forces you to leave your worries behind and live in the moment.
- Travel makes you happy. This improves your optimism, which is good for your health. Studies have shown that happiness is much more closely tied to experiences than to possessions, so investing in experiences like travel rather than things is much better for your health.
Travel is good for the world.
- Travel is the ambassador to world peace. When you meet people, you make a connection. When you make a connection with another person, you increase understanding.
- When you increase understanding between people, the world becomes a smaller and more accepting place.
So get up, get going, and get out there on your next travel adventure!
Written by Joan Niemeier
