At some point we have been distracted by a vacation brochure. We think of traveling as the only cure for worries and discomforts. We consider the fact that it is time to embark on an adventure to a very distant place, and we self-prescribe a period of distance to return restored. This is where it is proven that traveling can also be a mental therapy.
Healthy Distancing
Whether you are going through a stressful period, you want to recover from a sentimental breakup, duel or professional leave; the human always seeks to reinvent as a mechanism for overcoming and self-valorization. Moving to distant places, in addition to being a way to open ourselves to other experiences, benefits both physically and emotionally.
Keeps the Heart Healthy
Every time people move further than usual, adrenaline is felt, is the chemical that activates and accelerates the heart engine. When you choose to walk to get to know the streets and sidewalks of a city you visit. It is estimated that you can take up to 10,000 steps in a day (approximately 6.5 kilometers), which translates into moderate levels of exercise, a good reason to do tourism than just resting in a hotel room.
It Challenges the Mind
Different destinations, new stimuli for the brain. Alerts are turned on in the face of new environments, languages, flavors, weather and customs, among others. Getting involved with the local culture and learning something new makes people more assertive and intelligent.
It also helps delay diseases such as Alzheimer’s, according to the Global Coalition on Aging report. “Travel is good medicine,” said Paul Nussbaum, a researcher at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
Social Skills
Facing spontaneous situations with strangers, charisma emerges better in society. Those who have studied abroad, upon their return, have shown greater openness to experiences, self-confidence and independence, even becoming more extroverted.
Refocus
It’s easy to get caught up in routines and frustrations that lead to harmful behaviors like suggestiveness, anxiety, and depression. Traveling reduces stress levels and mental exhaustion. It provides a time to clear the mind and focus better from a more relaxed and optimistic scenario.
Take a Breath
Sometimes just a break is required. Some choose to disconnect from social networks, take long naps, or enroll in a course or gym. Traveling temporarily removes professional, social and personal duties and allows us to be ourselves in places where no one is known.
Traveling forces you to meet with people again. It is re-experiencing that feeling of not being indispensable to some people, conflict situations or personal internal struggles.
Mental health is reflected in making decisions and actions assertively. Next time you’re reviewing a promotional vacation package for the tenth time, consider whether it’s a whim or a ticket to a new exprerience of life, the latter is probably the right one.
