We all know that a good night sleep, meditation, and some fresh kale is good for us. Even if you don’t incorporate them into your daily routine, they are perfect for your physical and mental health.
A significant addition to this list is traveling. It offers a huge boost to the health to your body, soul, and mind.
Anyone who has traveled around the world will tell you about the excitement and thrill that comes from being in new surroundings. Many studies have shown that traveling regularly improves your mental and physical health.
By traveling, you make sure that your mind is full of knowledge, and your soul full of happiness.
A couple of years ago, I made a life-changing decision. I decided that it was time for me to travel more and explore as many places as I can. It was the best decision I’ve ever made. Whether I made a big trip to Europe, or just visited a local vineyard for two days, I was fulfilled and overjoyed each time I got outside of my hometown. After every trip, I feel more healthy, happy, and full of knowledge, contentment, and positive energy.
Traveling is not only fun and exciting, but it brings a lot of health benefits to your body. We created a list of six, of the most important ones.
Traveling promotes brain health and keeps your mind sharp. When you have new experiences and taste new environments, your brain becomes more challenged and builds flexibility at the cellular level. As a result of that, it delays potentially degenerative diseases. The increase of cognitive stimulation improves your concentration and memory, especially in people with dementia.
When traveling, you meet new people, cultures, have new experiences, situations, which trains your brain.
Traveling prompts physical activity. Whether you rush through the airport, walk on unfamiliar streets, or backpack on a mountain, your body is active. As a result of that, your blood pressure lowers, and you’re less prone to heart diseases.
There was a study that started in 1948 that examined the health of hundreds of women over the course of 20 years. According to the study, women who went on vacations every six years or less were almost eight times more prone to developing heart disease or have a heart attack, compared to those who traveled say twice a year.
No wonder writers tend to travel to different places to get inspiration for their novels. New experiences and surroundings influence the neural pathways of the brain. This has lead to the belief that travel sparks synapses in the brain, and boosts creativity.
A study in 2012 found a strong connection between creativity and the immersion into different cultures. According to the study, the better you adapt and engage in new cultures, the more fruitful and creative you are. So, rather than just changing your physical location, try to immerse yourself in new cultures.
Traveling helps you broaden your perspective of the world and yourself. When you travel, you face the reality of living outside your familiar comfort zone. No matter how uncomfortable, it gives you the chance to transform how you see things around you. According to psychologists, people who travel often have epiphanies, and they see problems with a detached view making them easier to deal with.
When you visit new places and meet new cultures, you’re able to see how other people live, and how they deal with everyday life. You challenge your assumptions, broaden your views, and free your mind.
One of the most significant benefits of traveling is stress reduction. According to a 2012 survey, 89% of people who go on vacations found they could let go of stress and relax after just a day into their vacation. Just being in new surroundings and changing your daily routines, helps to reset your body and mind. As a result, you are able to release all that stress.
Traveling can also lower levels of depression and improve your psychological functions. Even if you only plan your trip, you could experience a boost in happiness. Having a journey you look forward to, can feel rewarding, even if that’s just a two-day camping trip.
There’s no better way to meet new people than meeting them in an entirely new environment. Being outside your comfort zone encourages you to look to others for guidance, which helps you create a connection with them. Whether you connect with the locals, other travelers or someone you travel with, making or improving social connections improves your physical and mental health.
The social aspects of traveling will enhance your sense of self. You will strengthen your personal identity when you get out of your social comfort zone and immerse yourself in different cultures. You will reinforce your values and beliefs, and boost your confidence.
Hopefully, the list above will encourage and motivate you to engage in a lifestyle filled with traveling and exploring. There’s almost no negative side of traveling, but there are so many positive ones.
All you need is to pack your bags, pick the destination, and enjoy the benefits of traveling.
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We live in a beautiful world, get out there and enjoy it.
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