Who doesn’t love to travel? There’s something about going to distant lands that you’ve never experienced and taking it all in. But what is it about travel that’s so beneficial to the mind and body? Our friends at Safebound Moving & Storage put together this list of facts about travel that is sure to put you in the right mood and mindset to think about that next trip.
Travel Makes You Smarter
Most people don’t think about this one, but it’s fairly obvious when you break it down. When you visit a new city, country, or landscape, you’re able to experience it in a very real way. It’s one thing to read about a city or watch documentaries, but it’s a very different thing to experience it firsthand.
There’s no better teacher than a real experience. When you visit somewhere new, you’re able to taste the food, listen to the locals, and immerse yourself in a different culture. That experience can’t be replicated on a TV or page. So, one of the coolest things about travel is that it really does make you smarter because you’re able to have a real experience with a new place! And, you might be surprised when you’re thinking about calling the local moving companies after you visit a place you can envision yourself living.
Planning the Trip Makes You Happier Than the Actual Trip
This is one of those strange mental tricks that only make sense when it’s explained. At first, this doesn’t make much sense, right? Surely sitting in a café overlooking the Mediterranean without a care in the world should be the most relaxing, happiest aspect of the trip. Actually, it’s all about the anticipation.
When humans have something to look forward to, they function better. That’s a basic fact of psychology. It’s all about the “hope” of the situation. When someone has a lot of hope that their trip will be fun, the quality of their day-to-day life in the weeks and months ahead of the trip actually improves significantly thinking about the Oyo rooms and sightseeing.
Traveling Reduces Your Stress Levels
Perhaps it’s something about getting out of your own little world and engaging with the world as a whole that makes traveling great for your mental health. Again, it makes sense when we break it down.
In your day-to-day life, you’re likely consumed with an endless number of tasks and worries that weigh you down. We tend to get so caught up in our lives that are ultimately insignificant. Think about it. How much of your daily life is taken up with work or paying bills or gossiping, or shopping? How much of that really matters in the grand scheme of things? We’d wager not a whole lot. Well, when you escape that day-to-day grind, of course your stress levels will drop. And, on top of that, you see the world as a whole and begin to realize that you’re only a very small piece of a much larger picture. That realization should take some of the weight off your shoulders!
Working on Vacation is Not Good
How is this fact supposed to instantly put you in a good mood? It’s not, to be honest. However, it should affect your judgment if you’re thinking about checking work-related emails and other work affairs while you’re traveling.
Those who do work-related activities while on their vacations are less likely to remember events from their vacation. Again, it makes sense when you think about it. The more you do that reminds you of being home and repairing the recliner while you’re on your vacation, the more you’ll feel like you’re home. The less you’re in tune with the present moment on your travels, the less you’ll remember. And, overall, the less satisfaction you’ll get from the trip. Furthermore, the trip will be less effective in terms of lowering those stress levels as we mentioned earlier.
You’re Not The Only One Flying
Do you know that feeling, when you’re in an airplane, that you and the other passengers are the only people on earth having this experience? It’s like you’re in your own reality for a while. Well, you’re wrong. At any given time, as many as 61,000 other Americans are flying! So, if you’re worried about the flight or don’t have much experience flying, just know that you aren’t alone in the journey!
