When your long haul is delayed and there’s a toddler kicking your seat, it might be hard to believe that travel is actually good for the soul. However, despite the small bugbears that come with travelling, it is scientifically proven to be beneficial for your physical and mental health. Whether you like to travel to your favourite spa resort every year or enjoy backpacking adventures to exotic places you never been before, both offer endless rewards.
While it may be able to easy to see the benefits of an active holiday filled with sweat producing activities, most don’t tend to see a beach holiday as an investment in their health. But taking time to reboot your body and mind is priceless, and offers the following benefits:
It may reduce stress
While initially getting to your destination might make you feel slightly tense, once you arrive being in a new place should help you forget the stresses of everyday life. No matter whether you’re enjoying daily massages on a luxury island or are trekking through the rainforest, a change in environment can reset both your body and mind.
It shifts your perspective
New experiences help to expand your mind, be that trying a new kind of food, attempting to speak a new language or discovering you’re actually pretty good at a niche local sport. Shifting your experience and getting into new situations will keep your brain sharp and may even allow you to see your problems from a new point of view.
It can boost your immune system
Being exposed to different environments is great for your body, as you come into contact with new types of bacteria your immune system becomes stronger and more resilient. As long as you make sure to still keep you usual hygiene practices, travel could become your new favourite kind of probiotic.
It increases connection
Whether it’s making friends with the hotel barman or meeting the love of your life while on a mountain hike, the connections you make while travelling can often be crucial to your emotional health. Traveling increases the chances of you meeting the kinds of people you don’t normally associate with, and connecting with other cultures can not only increase your wordy knowledge but also your sense of self.
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