Traveling has many benefits that go beyond just making memories and meeting new people. Getting out of your daily routine and exploring a new place can have a remarkably positive impact on your mental and emotional wellbeing.
Even in these hard times when traveling far distances can feel unsafe and unreliable, changing up your daily routine at a nearby town or locale on a weekend day can also help to change your mindset and help ease the stress of the daily grind. But many people wonder if traveling can help with depression. So let’s find out!
Does traveling help mental health?
Can traveling help us mentally? Yes, it has scientifically been proven that traveling provides a number of benefits to your mental health. Just one trip away could help change your outlook on life for the better. How traveling can help mental health? There are a few reasons why it is worth packing your bag and going freeing yourself from the grind.
1. Does staying fit and healthy during travel help?
Keeping yourself physically fit is known to be a big help in improving your mental health and traveling provides ample of such opportunities to get active. Activities with a change in scenery, like going to the beach to take a dip, going on a hike, skiing or even just taking a walk can make you hopeful and be a good help to refresh your mind. Connecting with nature is also helpful although you can do this anywhere it is better to incorporate a little ecotherapy into your travels too.
2. How does changing the status quo help?
Either venturing abroad or to a local town, it is great to take a break by taking a trip away from your daily routine as it can help break through the negative cycles and get out of the runt your stuck in by revealing a world of possibilities beyond your bubble.
Does changing your perspective help?
Experiencing different cultures of the world can open your eyes to new ways of living. Something as simple as learning a new dish or changing the way you spend your free time can have a significant effect on your wellbeing. Traveling can lead you to question and challenge the norms of the mundane everyday life at home. It can potentially inspire you to make important positive changes to help with your life.
Can traveling help anxiety?
Traveling can help lower your overall stress levels. Our lives most often than not can be constantly in the grind of work n daily life, and sometimes we may feel that we are living each day over and over on repeat. Travel is a great way to escape the stresses and commitments of everyday life, offering novelty and change in the form of new people, sights and experiences. Margaret J King of the Center for Cultural Studies and Analysis has said this about the stress-relieving abilities of travel, “With a short list of activities each day, freed up from the complexities of ongoing projects and relationships, the mind can reset, as does the body, with stress relief the main outcome.”
For a few of us, traveling is not about just exploring new places, but rather escaping old ones that have had a negative impact on our lives. Vacations can also help us to manage stress as we get to take a breather and leave from the places and activities that contribute to our stress levels in exchange for afternoon naps, leisurely walks and the freedom to make your own schedule can do your mental health the world of good. Spending time away with friends and loved ones can add to the feel-good factor, while solo travel can refresh your sense of independence.
Can creativity by traveling help our mind?
Travel helps your brain function better and boosts creativity. Immersing yourself in new cultures increases your mind’s ability to move between different ideas, think more deeply, and integrate thoughts. It’s been scientifically proven that new experiences – particularly ones that allow you to immerse yourself in a different culture, be influenced by new environments – improve the neuroplasticity of your brain, which helps boost our creativity as creativity is generally related to neuroplasticity. Having a creative outlet is a great way to practice mindfulness and so the more you are able to put it to good use, the better.
Can traveling help with depression?
When you’re feeling low, it is easy to feel sad, depressed and feel like you don’t deserve anything nice. But treating yourself with a trip can help lighten your mood and pull you away from self guilt whether it’s a staycation or far-flung getaway – can be an empowering act of self-care.
The effects of traveling aren’t only felt during and after your trip – but in fact, even just the anticipation of going on vacation away from the regular mundane life can boost your mood. People are at their happiest when they have a vacation planned. A study by the University of Surrey found, and are also more positive about their health, economic situation and general quality of life.
Planning your traveling trip itself can bring you excitement and help with depression, it grants you the freedom to plan on things you love to do, try out new things you want to do, gives you time to relax and practice living in the moment. Because of this for many people traveling isn’t just an enjoyable pastime, but an important and essential part of fostering a positive healthy mindset. So preparing for a trip and traveling with your loved ones can actually help with depression.
Can travel boost your self esteem and confidence?
Traveling isn’t always about spa days and relaxing evenings at the beach but it can come with a few struggles of its own. Travel can also mean navigating through large crowds in excessive heat or extreme cold, losing your way and getting lost, struggling with language barriers or even a great change in culture, all this challenging stuff and it can be even hard if you are feeling down in the dumps or depressed. But overcoming all this and getting to complete your bucket list and have a great time can help boost your confidence and self esteem, you can become hopeful in being able to handle challenging situations and in turn this confidence boost and feeling of accomplishment can help when you come back to your normal routine.
Now that you know the benefits, where are you going next? Your mental health requires it.