Traveling can provide new experiences and create lasting memories. There are many reasons that you may want to travel - whether it be to explore, try something new, visit family and friends, to relax, or simply to just get away. Not only can traveling allow you to see and try new things, it can also provide you with a variety of different health benefits. Traveling can benefit your physical and mental health in many ways including lowering your stress level, lowering your blood pressure, increasing your physical activity and more. The health benefits of travel also promote healthy aging, which allows people to live longer in better physical and mental health. If you are looking to know more about the health benefits of traveling, keep reading.
Lowers Stress
If you feel overwhelmed and stressed out, traveling can help. Traveling can allow you to take a much-needed break from your daily stressors which may include work, keeping up your house, and other daily responsibilities. Traveling can allow you to enjoy a change of scenery and pace, allowing you to disconnect from your responsibilities back home. This can also help to lower your blood pressure by reducing your stress level. You do not need to take long trips or excursions to help lower your stress level- even getting away for a couple nights can allow you to return to your daily responsibilities refreshed.
Reduces Depression
Not only can traveling reduce your overall stress level, it can also help to reduce depression by increasing positive feelings. In a study that was conducted by the University of Pittsburgh’s Mind Body Center, it was proven that taking a vacation can help to relieve symptoms of depression. Other clinical studies have also proven that those who get away to travel or take a vacation at least a couple times a year suffer less from depression than others.
Decreases Risk of Developing Heart Disease
Taking a break to travel can have a tremendous impact on the health of your heart. Many studies have been done which illustrate a direct correlation between heart health and travel. The Framingham Heart Study demonstrated that men and women that did not vacation regularly were more likely to suffer from a heart attack or heart disease than those who vacationed at least a couple times a year. A study that was sponsored by the US National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute studied 12,000 men that were at high risk of coronary heart disease. The men that took vacation regularly were 32% less likely to develop heart disease. These studies prove that traveling and taking a break is good for the mind and heart as well.
Promotes Mental Wellbeing
Traveling can also improve your mental wellbeing in a variety of ways. It can present you with new challenges, experiences, and opportunities. It can also allow you to reconnect with yourself by providing a time and space for mindfulness and reflection. Traveling can help you to get reacquainted with your personal interests and the things you love. Traveling can also provide an environment for new connections and social interactions allowing you to meet new friends. You can also boost your overall happiness by being in the moment while traveling. Traveling gives you the opportunity to forget about your typical daily stressors so that you can immerse yourself in the moment.
Encourages Healthy Aging
Traveling can also help to keep you young at heart, body, and mind. Traveling introduces you to new experiences, customs, and environments which in turn challenge your brain. This helps to keep your brain healthy through problem-solving, navigating social interactions, and new experiences. Travel promotes social habits, physical exercise and proper rest which promotes healthy aging.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do I get the most out of my vacation?
A. Planning ahead and preparing early can help you to get the most out of your vacation. Get all the prep work out of the way early by researching where you would like to stay, what you would like to do, what you will need to pack, and so on. This way you can relax and fully immerse yourself when the time for your trip arrives.
Q. How do I ensure I am getting the most health benefits possible from traveling?
A. When traveling there are a few things that you should try to do so that you will gain as many health benefits as you can including eating well, limiting alcohol consumption, being physically active and sleeping well.
Q. Do I need to travel far away to reap the health benefits?
A. You do not need to travel far away to reap the health benefits that are associated with traveling. Sometimes a simple change of pace and scenery can be all you need, even if it is just traveling in your own city.
Q. What if I have no one to travel with?
A. You do not need others to travel with to gain the health benefits of traveling. Traveling solo is a great way to get to travel exactly how you would like to, without having to compromise anything to meet another person’s requests. If you are reluctant to travel alone there are many traveling groups you can join.
Q. What are the mental health benefits of traveling?
A. Traveling can provide many mental health benefits including reducing the symptoms of depression, lowering stress levels, enhancing creativity and improving overall sense of self.
