TRAVEL, FOR YOUR WELLBEING

WE ARE NATURALLY DRAWN TO THE OUTDOORS – JUST LIKE INDOOR PLANTS WE NEED WATER, NUTRIENTS AND SUNLIGHT.

If you find yourself in a slump, it’s often because we get caught up in our nine-to-five routine every week. Just like a merry-go- round at the amusement park continuously circling around the same paths, you do not observe anything new or experience a change of pace. This can leave us feeling deflated, lifeless and just like the wilted indoor plant. Travelling allows you to break that cycle and explore somewhere outside of your daily bubble. Here are five ways travelling can improve your wellbeing (read: five excuses to organise your next trip, STAT!):

1. PROVIDES PURPOSE
When you plan a trip, you get excited by giving yourself a goal to work towards – whether it’s going to work each day knowing that it’s a day closer to the date or saving your money to reach your ultimate destination. Wake up, go to work, come home, cook dinner, go to bed… Sound familiar? When you have a reason or goal to work towards, you find a sense of purpose in what you’re doing instead of mindlessly working away each day.

2. ALLOWS CONNECTION
Along your travels you often find yourself chatting away to strangers. Perhaps it’s with someone on a bus between locations, while sightseeing or with a taxi driver? Travelling with a group of new people via a tour company, you will find yourself around like minds. These are all great opportunities to make life long global friends – who knows when and where you’ll need a place to stay one day!

3. BREAK THE CYCLE
Once you’ve set out on your adventure you are no longer bound to the daily grind. You get to create an itinerary that’s going to have you wanting to jump out of bed. Breaking your everyday routine is healthy for not feeling trapped in the continuous cycle of what you believe you “have to do” each day. Travel itineraries give you the opportunity to do something new and less/ more fast-paced than what you normally do because you’re totally in control. Allowing yourself some time and space will increase your overall wellbeing in the long run.

4. CULTURAL EXPERIENCES
The opportunity to embark on a journey through another culture besides your own lets you become aware of other ways of lifestyle, cooking, thinking and interacting etc. You may come across a new recipe that you can take home to recreate with your family or help those less fortunate through a volunteering program to remind yourself about the gratitude already in your life. Embarking on large or small journeys can open your mind to differences in the world and help you find gratitude.

5. BEGIN AGAIN
Often after one has returned from their time away, we begin again with a fresh open mind, we feel relaxed and ready to get back to what we do best. When returning to work, we have new stories to tell our coworkers. When catching up with friends and family after our trip, we get excited telling them about where we’ve been. Occasionally, you may return feeling as if you want to begin something new like studying a course or looking into extending or a different career path, which can be an exciting time to allow new chapters to start. No matter your age, we are always changing, evolving and adapting and if it’s time for you to embark on a journey then take your time to breathe, enjoy and let yourself begin again.

Words: Shannan Rae (www.shannieraeetravels.com)