7 Surprising Benefits of Travel

7 Surprising Benefits of Travel

All of us would love to plan more travel into our schedules, right? Well, now you have good reason to. Studies have found that travel has a host of incredible benefits for us, both physically, emotionally and mentally. 

It seems that travel isn’t something that we simply love to do, it is something that we all SHOULD be doing. The more travel, the more benefits! 

One of the things that keeps us bored, frustrated, stressed or flat in life is monotony. We are designed as humans to seek new experiences in life. Travel gives you opportunities to try new things and meet new people, helping you combat that seemingly ‘groundhog day’ existence that we can fall into. Taking a break from your usual routines with a trip away from home can help break negative cycles, get you out of a rut and reveal a world of possibilities beyond your daily bubble.

So, how many vacations do you need to enjoy the healthy benefits of your trip? What getaways have the most benefits? Read on to discover all the answers… 

Travel Benefit #1 Live Longer

If you’re someone who skips out on your vacation time to ‘get ahead’ or you have a list of excuses as long as your arm not to travel and take time out for you, you could be doing yourself more harm than good. 

The University of Helsinki conducted a 40-year study that showed those who take more time off work each year ultimately live longer. People who take at least three weeks off work every year are 37% more likely to live longer than those who skip their holidays.  

That’s a pretty big statistic, and a pretty good reason to book that trip! Travel has repeatedly been shown to boost longevity levels, primarily due to its stress-relieving benefits. 

The study also showed that having a healthy lifestyle doesn’t necessarily compensate for not taking time off. Squeezing in a yoga class and daily kombucha around your long work hours doesn’t balance out the benefits of proper time off. So take those holiday hours and use them!

Travel Benefit #2 Farewell Stress

Ok so this one probably isn’t going to surprise you greatly- holidays have been shown to significantly reduce stress. What might surprise you though is just how effective travel is as a stress buster. We all are familiar with the growing trend of stress in modern day life. Simply taking a break in a new location away from your daily stress triggers has been proven to lower cortisol levels and help you feel calm, relaxed and content. 

According to a 2013 study, more than 80% of travellers surveyed noticed significant drops in stress just after one day of being in holiday mode. The same percentage also reported feeling a more general sense of wellbeing and mood. 

Taking a break from the daily hustle and bustle is essential for your mind to have space to relax, recharge and rejuvenate. Travel allows you perspective to focus on the present moment and to reflect on what is truly important. Oftentimes, many of the events or circumstances causing you stress become irrelevant and you have the power to return back to life with a strong mindset and a new approach.

Travel Benefit #3 Reconnect, Reimagine, Reinvent

Just as travel allows you to reflect outwards, it also allows you to reflect inwards. Without the labels you take on in regular daily life you have the opportunity to simply be you. Being in a new space offers a sense of freedom and liberation that nothing else offers. Here, not only can you reconnect with the truest version of you, but you also have the opportunity to reimagine and reinvent yourself. 

Travel has the ability to expand your mind in new ways. It invites you to be more aware and open to new things. Being confronted with these differences helps you to re-consider and reflect on your own principles and values and, sometimes, change them for the better. Travelling solo also reminds you of your independence and strength, allowing you to dream bigger and not feel held back by fear or limited beliefs. 

Experiencing different cultures can open your eyes to new ways of living. Something as simple as learning a new recipe or changing the way you spend your downtime can have a dramatic effect on your wellbeing. Travel can lead you to question and challenge the norms of everyday life at home, potentially inspiring you to make positive changes for the long run.

Travel Benefit #4  Boost those Happiness Hormones

Obviously being on holiday means no work and more play, however, studies show that new events and experiences help rewire your brain, boosting your mood and self-confidence. According to a Cornell University study, even the anticipation of a trip can increase your happiness substantially, even more than the anticipation of acquiring something tangible, like a new car.

 A 2020 study found that people who were consciously aware of the wide vistas around them whilst travelling reported feelings of hope, excitement and wonder. These wide perspectives are liberating, compared to the more limited perspectives we have back home- especially the limited perspectives of our screen time (watching a vista on your iphone doesn’t cut it!)

While as humans we crave comfort, it is this sense of comfort and safety that often keeps us trapped. We are inherently designed to explore new experiences and try new things- this is how we continue to learn and develop. There is a joy that comes from travel and new adventures that is incomparable. So, keeping that plane ticket and itinerary in your inbox seems to be a surefire way to pull you through those tough days, knowing brighter days are ahead. 

Travel Benefit #5 Increase your Mental Resilience

Mental resilience is something we have likely all been a little more familiar with over the last few years. Travel can promote some fears or butterflies in us- simply because it is something out of our ordinary daily lives. Yet it is precisely this ‘feel the fear and do it anywhere’ approach that really bolsters our mental resilience and self confidence. 

Through travel, we learn to trust ourselves and to trust the journey. We learn how to pivot when something may not go as planned and how to embrace the present moment. We learn how to accept change, how to be flexible and patient, and how to pep-talk ourselves when we need that extra push. Travel is a powerful way to build that mental resilience and also help you to reconnect with your intuition and self knowing. The more challenges or new experiences you’re faced with, the better you’ll get at dealing with them with grace and ease. This means not only will you say yes to swimming with manta rays, it means you’re also teaching yourself how to say yes to that big life change you’ve been holding back from. 

Travel Benefit #6 Boost Your Creativity

It’s been scientifically proven that new experiences – particularly ones that allow you to immerse yourself in a different culture – improve the neuroplasticity of your brain, increasing creativity in the process. Studies show that visiting a foreign place and immersing yourself in their local environment increases your cognitive flexibility and enhances depth and integrativeness of thought. 

It’s important to note that travelling stimulates creativity only when you engage with the local culture of that place. Merely visiting a new city or a country isn’t going to cut it- you’ve got to dive in and experience the place fully! Travelling also improves your productivity, problem-solving skills and general life skills as you’re encouraged to be present and think on the spot. Immersing yourself in new cultures increases your mind’s ability to move between different ideas, think more deeply, and integrate thoughts.

Have you ever felt compelled to write when travelling? Do you love taking creative photos when you’re somewhere new? Do you feel more inclined to pick up that instrument you’ve neglected, try painting or do a local cultural dance class whilst on the road?! Time and space remind us of these passions and also switch on these parts of the brain that we tend to regard as ‘less important.’ Creativity stimulates joy and wonder in us and there’s nothing like new horizons, new cultures and new friendly faces to help spark those creative juices. 

Travel Benefit #7 Develop Emotional Connections

Have you ever noticed how quickly bonds form on the road or on a holiday or retreat? Travel connects us quickly and deeply as we are taken out of our familiar environments and relationships. It feels easy to open up to individuals and find reflections in others that you are sharing this new journey alongside. People tend to ‘feel like family’ very quickly and we allow ourselves to open and trust people in a way that we don’t tend to do in our regular lives. 

Travel also provides opportunities to learn about new and different cultures, which can help increase your empathy towards others. Travel has been shown to help improve overall tolerance, reduce biases and even decrease frustration. The relationships we develop through travel go beyond limiting labels and we connect simply as we are. It’s truly liberating and these relationships will likely change your life indelibly. 

Good news- how to reap the benefits of travel after returning home again

To keep hold of all the benefits of travel after your suntan fades away, psychologists recommend that you hold on to aspects of the travel experience or vacation that was pleasurable for you. For example, if you loved Balinese food whilst in Bali, learn how to recreate it at home. This can help to ignite some of the feelings you had while you were away. Another suggestion is to remember peaceful moments you had on vacation and try to incorporate those into your present life. If you slowed down to eat, made time for yoga, journalled or enjoyed a massage, these are important things that you can add to your daily life to continue all the positive benefits of your trip. 

Here are some final interesting stats you should know!

 “Women who vacationed at least twice a year had significantly less risk of having a heart attack or heart failure, compared to women who rarely vacationed and travelled.”

“Women who took vacations were much less likely to suffer from depression and other mental health issues. Subsequently, these women on average had better relationships, were less fatigued, and enjoyed a higher quality of life.” (Statistics found here.)

The benefits of travel go beyond making memories and meeting new people. Getting out of your comfort zone and exploring a new place can have a remarkably positive impact on your wellbeing. If you can’t get overseas right now, even changing up your daily routine at a nearby town or locale on a weekend can help to change your mindset and help to ease the stress of the daily grind. 

As well as the focus and excitement travel planning can bring, travel itself grants you the freedom to do what you love, take time to rest and practice living in the moment. To this end, for many people, travel is not simply an enjoyable pastime, but an essential part of fostering a healthy, positive mindset and lifestyle. 

Are you due for a vacation?!

These are just a few of the benefits of travel. Taking that time out from your daily life is worth its weight in gold. You certainly never regret taking a holiday, but you may end up regretting those you miss taking! As women, we can find it hard to put our own needs first and sometimes, taking time out for a retreat or holiday can feel uncomfortable. However, we believe that every woman deserves a luxury retreat and the befits of taking this time to you aren’t only limited to yourself, these benefits reach out and touch every person in your life. Happy you means happy relationships. 

When you’re ready to say YES to that long awaited adventure, uur team are ready to cheerlead you on! Feel free to contact us here.

Hear about some of the benefits women have experienced with us on retreat…

“As the door opened into the paradise of Escape Haven we were greeted with hugs, leis, fresh coconut water and fruit. The pampering continued from day one with unlimited spa treatments (signature massage, bamboo massage, biokis facial, hair créme bath, Kativasti massage and the list goes on). Needless to say my level of relaxation was at an all time high. I tried acupuncture and colorpuncture treatments for the first time and the specialists were wonderful and I learned a lot about holistic treatment.”

M. Wands 2022

Diana 2022

“That inner voice of “not needing to do it” was proven so wrong and shown the amazing value of coming together with a group of women, being nourished with yummy food, trying new activities together, and having the freedom to do or need as we each desired. When we started the retreat something was shared that has stuck with me…that retreats are not just for recharging or resetting, but also to try new things. It may sound simple, but I loved that. It was an opportunity to try something new, and how often in our adult lives do we really allow ourselves to try new things?”

Piper 2021