People travel for many reasons, including to visit friends and family out of state and to see attractions like historical sites and national parks. Summers and holidays are particularly busy for travel, whether you are going by car, plane, or train. In addition to being fun, going on a trip also has several mental health benefits that travelers enjoy. Just as you would take a day off to go to the doctor’s office, it is important to do things that are good for mental as well as physical health. Here are a few of the mental health benefits of traveling.
Increased Empathy
When you travel, you encounter different people, not all of whom do things the same way that you do. Encountering different cultures and ways of life can help people to have more empathy. Empathy is the ability to see things from another person’s point of view and is important to mental health because it positively impacts how someone sees the world.
Stress Relief
Although making a long journey can be stressful, most people intend to relax and unwind once they reach their final destination. Stress relief can mean different things to different people. For example, some people prefer to relax by renting a cabin in a remote area, while other people might consider the thought of potentially dealing with wild animals and being cut off from the outside world to be stressful. Find what is relaxing for you and seek out those opportunities when traveling.
Improvement of Mental Functioning
When you travel, you do things that you might not often do in your regular day-to-day life, gaining new experiences in the process. Performing new activities keeps the brain alert and healthy, which is necessary for good mental health. Some new activities to consider while traveling include:
Trying out a new sport such as sailing or skiing
Going to a restaurant to try a new cuisine
Visiting a historic landmark and learning a bit of local history
Taking a guided walking tour of a new city, which may be offered for free or at a low cost
Depending on where you are going, there will more than likely be some new and interesting experiences to enjoy and learn from. Continuing to learn and explore helps keep the brain happy and active.
A Break From Monotony
Having a routine does have its benefits; for example, having a regular sleep schedule is important for fighting fatigue and stress. However, getting in a rut for too long can lead to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Traveling allows you to break out of this rut, whether you are going somewhere for a long weekend, an entire month, or some time frame in between. Breaking up the routine once in a while boosts happiness levels by keeping life interesting.
Top Must Visit Cities In The World
There are endless beautiful and exotic places to visit and attractions to see in the world. Here are some of the top attraction cities to add to your travel list. However, make it an adventure to scout around for the places and attractions that are tailored for you.
Some of the top choices include:
- Paris: Eiffel Tower – For more information on Paris, CLICK HERE.
- Rome: The Colosseum – For more information on Rome, CLICK HERE.
- New York City: The Statue of Liberty- For more information on New York City, CLICK HERE.
- Tokyo – Meiji Shrine- For more information on Tokyo, CLICK HERE.
- Dubai – Burj Khalifa- For more information on Dubai, CLICK HERE.
Travel Resource: CLICK HERE.
Written by: Annabelle Harris
Annabelle Harris is the creator of Elders.Center. Her goal is to help soon-to-be-seniors and already-seniors move gracefully into their golden years with less fear and more confidence.
