The 11 psychological benefits of traveling

Hardened travelers: now you have eleven more reasons to pack your bags.

Who doesn't enjoy a good trip to a city they've never been to before? Travel is a great motivator, as well as a source of joy, reflection and self-discovery. Travel allows us to explore new climates and cultures, immerse ourselves in them and stimulate our minds.

Obviously, there are others who prefer monotony and being comfortable at home. But the truth is that travel fever has been on the rise in recent decades. Television, movies and the Internet have opened a window to other parts of the world, unique places that catch our attention. This travel boom has also been influenced by the fact that prices have been dropping, allowing more people to move around the globe.

Psychological benefits for travelers

There is an extensive scientific literature on the psychological and emotional benefits of good travel habits. Of course, some of these benefits may be quite intuitive, but it never hurts for science to investigate and uncover the ins and outs of what it never hurts for science to investigate and discover the ins and outs of travel on our psyche..

Science has spoken

Without going any further, a study that was published in the Journal of Positive Psychology found that the feeling of happiness is found in the register of memories and experiences relevant to us, and whose maximum expression is travel.

Other research points to a clear correlation between being a traveler and longevity. Although this could be due to a socioeconomic factor (and would therefore be a spurious correlation), something like a travel gene also seems to have been detected. The fact of traveling to different parts of the world is not in itself a factor that explains greater longevity, but the psychological benefits of the experiences gained during travel seem clear. These can can improve our quality of life and ultimately lengthen the number of days we live..

All types of travel are positive

When researchers talk about travel, they are very clear: all types of travel are positive for the psychological health of the traveler. From nearby destinations to trips to remote and exotic places, all travel can be a great source of psychological health, all travel can be a great source of emotional well-being.. It is not necessary to go far away, or spend a lot of money, or practice any particular activity: all trips "add up".

However, and as is logical, there are trips that bring us much more interesting experiences than others. However, all experiences outside the home can be very positive for stimulating the mind. Each person has preferences regarding adventures, and it depends on many factors, such as personality, age and other variables.

Requirements for a trip to change our lives

Many people confess to their friends, assuring them that a trip they took literally changed their lives. It is true, sometimes travel destroys many of our patterns of thought and makes us see beyond, opening us to new worlds and possibilities that we did not even contemplate before.

Some of the requirements for a trip to be a kind of 'reset' of our mind are the following:

• The trip was made unaccompanied or with a group of previously unknown individuals.
• The trip represented a challenge of a spiritual nature..
• The culture of the country or region visited was substantially different from the traveler's own culture. from the traveler's own culture.
• They were rather long tripsof more than 2 weeks.

If you have ever had an existential crisis, you will have realized that sometimes we need a change in our daily dynamics. In this sense, traveling can help us regain faith in ourselves and even help us overcome bad times.

The 11 psychological benefits of traveling

Surely there are many more than eleven, but in today's article we will list the 11 most important benefits of the good habit of traveling and getting to know the world..

1. Reduces stress and anxiety

Stress is the pandemic of the 19th century in western countries.. Work demands, rush and frenetic pace of life cause us a latent discomfort that sooner or later manifests itself through stress. We can't stop thinking about our obligations, tomorrow's meetings or the uncertainty of work, and we forget to enjoy the present and the small pleasures of life.

However, when we embark on a trip, we disconnect from all these daily anxieties and focus on living in the present. focus on living in the presentRelaxing by the pool, visiting paradisiacal beaches, being moved by the beauty of the scenery... We focus on the moment and are not preoccupied with meetings or work routines.

To know more: "10 essential tips to reduce stress".

2. Boost your problem-solving skills

Throughout a trip, we are forced out of our comfort zone and must face certain situations and contexts that require greater involvement. You will live certain experiences in which you will have to make decisions and solve problems..

It is likely that you will get lost in unfamiliar streets, that you will be rushing to places and that you will have to communicate with locals who do not speak your language. In short, throughout the odyssey you will have to solve several problems and complicated situations that will arise, and this will help you to improve this ability.

3. Increase your communication and social skills.

If you have always wanted to meet new people and make friends, you should keep in mind that traveling gives you the best opportunity to connect with other people.. Being in an unfamiliar place, it is very likely that you will be encouraged to talk to people and develop your social skills.

Don't worry if during the first few days you find it a little difficult to address people you meet along the way. Once you get over the scenic environment, you will surely be able to meet exceptional people who will give meaning to your experience. See you at you may make friends and come back after a while to visit them, or welcome them in your own home.or host them in your own home.

Recommended article: "Guide to meeting new people: sites, skills and tips".

4. Open your mind and broaden your horizons

Traveling is the best solution to get rid of stereotypes and prejudices. In fact, it is often heard that "traveling is the best cure against racism". Prejudices make us suspicious of people for irrational reasonsand keep us from connecting with new people.

When we are on an expedition to a new culture, we will realize that some of these thoughts were unfounded.. We will discover new people and customs that deserve our appreciation, helping us to open our minds and relate in a kinder way to all kinds of people.

5. Promotes self-discovery

Taking an exciting trip is the best way to get to know oneself. We temporarily leave our daily context and visit a totally different environment, which can help us gain perspective on who we are and what we want in life. can help us gain perspective on who we are and what we want in life..

In addition, traveling can give us a new approach to life, discovering things we didn't know we liked.

6. It makes you happier

The experiences we live during our travels make us secrete different happiness hormones, such as endorphins. When we are away from home we forget our worries and work and family obligations. During a trip we carry out activities that we enjoy and that promote us to relate with other people..

All this plays in favor of our psychological well-being.

7. It keeps you away from fear and insecurities.

Fear is a feeling that paralyzes us. And, as many experts say, the best way to overcome fears is to face them. Once we become aware that fears are only in our head, we gradually relativize them and banish them, we gradually relativize them and banish them..

Surely, before embarking on a trip to a distant and unknown destination you have fears and insecurities such as: "Will I feel lonely? And even, depending on the destination you choose, you may feel that you risk being robbed on the street or not being able to understand people if you have any problems.

The reality is that exposing ourselves to our fears is the best way to overcome them.. Many people have been on a trip before and only a minority have had something serious happen to them. Give yourself the opportunity to experience a new culture and you will overcome your insecurities.

8. It makes you rethink a lot of things

Spending time away from home can broaden your outlook on things and life in general. Your priorities may change, and from now on you may give less importance to material things and value more other things that you did not value before.

9. It makes you more empathetic

A change of context and immersion in a new city and in a hitherto unknown culture gives you the chance to relativize your daily problems and put yourself in the shoes of other people who may have a different life. who, perhaps, have a much more complicated life than yours.

This can make you more empathetic and able to appreciate that other people may have different value systems.

10. You learn constantly

Living unique experiences in environments different from what we are used to provide us with learning and knowledge that improves us as people.. It gives us another vision about things, about relationships, about religion, about the way different cultures deal with life.

In addition, the habit of traveling provides us with the tools to question our day-to-day lives and our most deeply rooted values. Knowing new things empowers us with skills and abilities that we had latent, and develops our critical spirit.and develops our critical spirit.

11. Develop your vision of things and broaden your horizons.

Traveling and getting to know new countries and cultures broadens our vision of society. It makes us more respectful and flexible, as we learn to value the needs and ways of thinking of the people we meet.