6 Mental Health Benefits of Travelling

Travel is a great way to take care of your mental health. In fact, a vacation might be exactly what the doctor ordered! If you think that sounds a little too good to be true, here are 6 mental health benefits of travelling. 

Reduces Stress

Taking the time to get away from work and travelling to a new city or country is one of the best ways to cut the stress of everyday life. Travel forces you to get out of your routine and experience new people, foods, cultures and activities. Enjoying these aspects of travel leads to lower cortisol levels, reducing stress and adding more happiness to your life. 

Teaches Independence and Confidence 

If you struggle with feeling independent or confident, travel might be exactly what you need. Solo travel specifically, helps you become more independent and gain self-confidence, as you start to realise you’re capable of figuring out just about anything on your own! When you get on the right train, order food in another language or try an activity you’d never do at home, it makes you more resilient. 

Encourages fitness 

One of the biggest mental health benefits of travelling is linked to your physical health. Unless you’re booking an all-inclusive hotel where you plan to spend the entire time laying on the beach, you’re likely to move your body a lot more than you would at home. Just walking around a new city is enough to get your steps in for the next few days! Exercise is great for mental health so it’s a win-win. You’ll probably also spend much more time surrounded by nature if you’re hiking or walking along a new beach, which is also a great way to reduce anxiety and depression. 

Boost in Creativity 

It’s hard to constantly remain creative when you’re always in the same environment. Travelling encourages creativity, as you experience new environments you could only ever imagine before. Embracing new cultures in different countries will open your mind to outlooks you may have never considered. 

Experience a different perspective 

Learning about new cultures and beliefs from all walks of life is something you usually only experience through travel. It gives you the chance to ask questions and learn from people you typically would never talk to otherwise. You may also experience something bigger than yourself when you travel. When this happens, it’s important to remain present and later reflect upon what you’ve discovered that you could possibly bring back to your life at home. 

Allows You to Reinvent Yourself 

If you aren’t happy with where you are in life and what you’re doing, travel is great because it’s the perfect time to reinvent yourself. Deciding to pursue a new career path or taking up new hobbies can be scary to do at home where everyone knows you. When you travel, things are much different because you’re surrounded by strangers so there’s less pressure to perform and you can be exactly who you decide you want to be!

Time to Book Your Next Trip!

As you can see, there are many mental health benefits of travelling. With that being said, it’s important to note that some people find travel stressful and chaotic. If that’s the case for you, book a short trip and prepare ahead of time so you know exactly what you’re getting yourself into. Otherwise, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t travel and see how you feel when you return home. 

Looking for more mental health tips? Head over to Tranquille Therapy’s Blog for more information.