21 Amazing Benefits of Travel and Why It’s Good For You
Awe yes, the many benefits of travel.
Where do I even start, there are so many to choose from. It’s a crucial part of our everyday life.
We travel from one room of the house to the next, from our homes to work, and from home to the cabin or a different country. Everyone travels, some just not as far as others.
Traveling is meant for you to experience life in different ways; to get out of your busy schedule and day to day routine.
It’s a good stress reliever, helps with anxiety, and depression. It also improves the mental and physical health.
If you are starting to feel stress from work or home, then you need to get away for a bit.
I’m not talking about a week or month vacation (unless of course you can afford to do that). I’m talking about doing something out of the ordinary.
Feeling stress at work, go for a walk or take your lunch to a park. Stress at home, take a day just for yourself, go shopping or for a long walk.
But every once in a while, we do need that week long getaway. Somewhere tropical, full of culture, or just someplace new and exciting. Even if it’s during a pandemic.
So, without further ado, here are the other many benefits of traveling. I’m sure that you will find many appealing.
21 Amazing Benefits of Travel
Builds Confidence
Being away from home can be very scary.
You will face challenges and learn to overcome them.
Building confidence will also help you become more independent due to having to make decisions.
Be proud of yourself and all that you have accomplished.
Every time I’m on a trip, I can feel the confidence inside me build. Especially, if I’m traveling solo.
Reminds Us of Common Concerns
Traveling to anywhere, even across your own state (or country) you will probably have some concerns. Travel itself, reminds us of these concerns.
These are concerns that you may not have thought of before due to being familiar with your environment.
If you are going to a cabin for the weekend, you may have the concern of being unprepared and forgetting something.
Going on a cruise, you may have the concern of getting seasick.
Traveling to a third world country, you may have the concern of food poisoning.
You probably don’t even think twice about these concerns if you are at home.
Sometimes these concerns are what stops us from traveling. But don’t let them stop you.
Start small if you have to and work your way up to the grand destination, if that’s what it takes. It’s good to be aware.
Being in Nature Keeps Us Healthy
Stop and smell the roses. Literally.
Getting outside in nature, whether it’s going for a hike to see a waterfall or having a picnic in a park, is one of the healthiest things for you.
So, get outside and enjoy some vitamin D. Why not enjoy the great outdoors by taking a road trip in the USA.
Nature reduces anger, fear, and stress and helps increase pleasant feelings. It contributes to your physical well-being and reduced blood pressure.
Even just looking at a photo of a landscape will put a smile on your face. Because you are picturing yourself there.
Joys of Active/Adventure Travel
Getting your heart pumping is a good thing. It helps your heart muscles become more efficient and better able to pump blood throughout your body.
Too often, in our daily lives, physical activity is the last thing we make time for, and the health effects can be dramatic.
Active or adventure travel will help your brain work better, strengthen your immune system, improve your mood, and will improve your sleep.
Travel at Your Own Pace
One of the many benefits of travel is that you can do it at your own pace.
You don’t have to keep up with the Jones’ while on vacation. Unless of course you want to.
That’s one of the great things about travel, you can choose to go, go, go, or simply relax.
If you prefer low key, such as sitting at the beach then do that. The choice is yours.
Make New Friends Around the World
Making new friends is a huge benefit to travel.
Some friends may even become life-long friends. Friends that you go on other trips with or go on a trip to visit them, wherever they are from.
Talking to others and getting to know them can be an adventure in itself. Seeing what their worldviews are and hearing others opinions can lead to something new.
Making new friends around the world can give you a whole new world of opportunities.
Promotes Downsizing
This benefit is not just for those that like to travel a lot. But also, for those that travel a couple times a year.
The more you travel the less you spend on stuff because, well, you’re never home.
But even when I come back from a week vacation, I will look at all the stuff that I have and see that I don’t need it.
It’s just stuff collecting dust.
What about all the stuff I collected on my trips, you ask? Well, I don’t usually buy trinkets on vacation. My trinkets are my photos and memories. I can look at my photos over and over again, they will last forever.
Trinkets often get thrown away within five or ten years.
If you are one to travel to a poverty-stricken area, it will make you think twice about all the nice things you have.
Some people even downsize so that they can travel more. I have an Aunt and Uncle that did this.
They built a house on a large area of land but later on realized that they wanted to get out more with friends and family. Instead of taking care of the cleaning, mowing, and other keep up of the dream house that they built.
So, they moved to a smaller house with a smaller yard that took less time and money, so they are able to do things that they want, like travel.
An Efficient Household
I understand that driving in your car or flying in a plane isn’t exactly saving the environment. But having an energy efficient house it.
Having an energy efficient house can save not only money but also the environment.
Consider using a smart thermometer in your house. Instead, of leaving the heat or air on while your away.
No one wants to come home to a cold or hot house.
The family is all packed in the car and your already twenty miles from home and your spouse asks if you closed the garage door. What do you do? Go back and check, while using that time and gas?
Or you could just check on your phone with your smart garage door opener.
A couple other ways to save money in the household while you are away are to unplug nonessential devices and turn off the water heater.
These will help save energy and money.
All Ages Crowd
Another benefit of travel is talking to people of all ages.
Don’t discriminate against anyone.
An older couple may have found the perfect spot to relax and get amazing photos while a younger couple may have found the adventure you’ve been looking for.
Don’t just stick to your normal hang out crowds you never know what kind of benefits you’ll find.
Enjoy International Sports and Pastimes
If traveling international, a great activity to do would be to check out a game or see what the locals like to do in their off time.
This is a great way to experience the culture.
Pick a team and dress in those colors, be a part of the friendly banter.
This is also a huge learning experience, especially if traveling with kids. Because you get to learn something new.
Keeps You Young
Traveling keeps you on your toes and young at heart.
You are constantly learning new things about the place, meeting new people, and exploring new activities.
This keeps your brain thinking, your eyes wide open, and your heart pounding.
Travel has the power to enliven the senses, ignite inspiration, and makes us young again.
Makes You Richer
I’m not talking about money, rather experience, knowledge, and friendships.
Travel is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer.
It gives you priceless memories that will stay with you forever. Because you can look back on those photos in 10 or 20 years and they will bring a smile to your face.
Marcel Proust says, “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes”.
You get a peek into what the rest of the world is like and an opportunity to experience the lives of a million others for a brief moment.
Improves Interpersonal Skills
Forcing yourself to be social and have great interpersonal skills is one of the only ways to improve yourself as a person.
When you travel, especially internationally, you get the chance to talk to different people. Such as people of different class, ethnic groups, religions, and more.
Traveling also looks good on job applications because while traveling you’ll learn how to communicate effectively and have more of an open mind when it comes to talking to others of a different culture.
A way to do this is through Google Connect and becoming a Vocal Local. Interested? Learn what the perks are here.
Makes You Smarter
Travel helps fuel your brain to function at a higher level.
When you meet new people, learn new skills, and see unique things, with all of these your brain is evolving.
If you go somewhere that speaks a different language, I bet after your trip, you will go home knowing a couple phrases. Or at least a couple of words.
You meet new people and start to ask them questions about where they are from, I’m sure you will learn something new about another place.
A benefit of traveling can make you a smarter person.
More Tolerant and Open-minded
When traveling you keep an open-mind because you never know when something is going to go wrong.
You’re always open to possibilities.
Travel teaches you acceptance and tolerance.
When you travel, you see people for who they really are. You experience different culture norms and nuances, and you gain an appreciation for what other cultures value most.
Being more open to others also makes us more open to ourselves.
Learn to Save
Before you travel, you have to learn how to budget and save for your trips.
Learning how to set aside funds for emergencies and regular necessities is paramount, but it is vital to learn how to use money to help you get the things you want, like travel without obsessing over the numbers in your account.
Travel is one of the best ways to teach you about budgeting and saving.
You will also learn the value of money, especially if you are paying for the trip yourself. You will appreciate it more.
Lessons in Adulting
Adulting comes with difficult life lessons and responsibilities.
Like the above lesson you learn to manage your money.
You learn to plan. Even if traveling on a whim is what you think is best, you still need to plan what you are going to do that day or the next.
Ask questions. Know when to ask for help.
You learn to live with making mistakes. Whether it’s going down the wrong street or ordering guinea pig when you thought it was chicken.
Other lessons that you learn are navigating your way around, learning common sense, how to pack light, taking public transportation, being on time, and working on yourself.
Adulting isn’t easy but when you have a few traveling experiences under your belt, it is a lot easier.
Exercise
I feel that exercise is a big benefit to travel. Unless of course, you are going on a cruise.
For some reason, I seem to eat more at a buffet. However, there are places to exercise on cruise ships. I just don’t use them.
You can end up exercising more on vacation than you do at home. (if you don’t have regular exercise program at home that is.)
Think about it. You walk more places because you don’t have a car to jump into. The restaurant is only a block away so you walk instead of getting a cab.
Is there a swimming pool or are you by the ocean? Swimming is one of the best exercises you can do.
Stay fit and travel.
Makes You Appreciate Home
I’ll be the first to admit, traveling is my number one thing to do. However, that feeling of being home after a long weekend or week-long trip can feel pretty great too.
If your away on a backpacking trip or out camping, you will appreciate being home with all the luxuries.
Even if you stayed in a hotel or Airbnb, it’s nice to come back to the comforts of your own place.
To feel the normalcy of the day to day activities.
Make the most of life
Live life with no regrets.
If you want to see the Eiffel Tower, then go see it.
Hold a koala, then find out where you can and go.
A few years ago, my husband and I took our two daughters to Costa Rica as a Christmas gift.
The oldest daughter is in love with sloths. Not sure why, maybe because they remind her of herself, slow and lazy (typical teenager).
We got a chance to see one up close through a camera lens, and she was so excited, she started crying.
Right there in the middle of a bunch of strangers.
I know that she will never forget that moment and never regret going on the trip. And for us, it was just as special giving her the opportunity to have that moment.
Experience Tough Times
You are probably thinking, how is this a benefit?
Having those tough experiences will make you stronger and smarter.
Such as getting lost. You have to try and figure out where you are and how to get to your destination.
Because of this you have to ask questions, talk to the locals, and learn from your mistake. The next time you leave your hotel, you will be more aware of your surroundings and where you are going.
Next time you’re questioning yourself on if travel is a good idea, check out this list and all the benefits travel as to offer.
So, now that you know what all of the benefits to traveling are, are you ready to get out there and see the world?
I think you are.
Let’s get out there and take those beginning steps and find those inspiring reasons to travel.
Is your job holding you back? Check out these ideas on ways to travel more with a full time job.
