Traveling is perhaps the most transformative experience you can live. As Anthony Bourdain once said: “Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life and travel leave marks on you. Most of the time, those marks on your body or on your heart are beautiful.” Travel provides you with ample opportunities to explore the world we live in. But most importantly, it offers you a chance to discover yourself, to learn more about what your body and mind need in order to live happily and successfully.
Travel has also been shown that helps in treating a number of mental illnesses including depression. Here are 4 ways in which traveling can help you in your fight against depression.
- You Meet New People: Loneliness and isolation are one of the major symptoms of depression; and the more you isolate yourself, the more depressed you may get. When you travel, you get out of your comfort zone and you take a leap into the wider world where you meet and interact with people from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. You succeed at distracting your focus from the thousands of depressive thoughts racing through your mind into living in the moment and enjoying the freedom of letting go and indulging in knowing other people’s stories and experiences.
- Nature Therapy: Nature has the power to heal depression. Being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature on your phone reduces stress, anxiety, and fear and increases pleasant feelings. Human beings, regardless of their gender, race, or religion, are deeply connected to nature and find enormous peace and calm when being in dense forests, in the mountains, by the beach, or in a farm full of animals and flowers.
- It Gives You A Different Perspective: When you travel to diverse places, you get the chance to experience cultures different from your own and learn new habits that might positively impact your lifestyle. Travelling, therefore, can help you shape a wider perspective of the world. The experiences you get to live to encourage you to challenge your old and harmful routines; they might even inspire you into adopting healthy and blooming life practices such as consuming nutritious food, or ways to spend your free time. A simple habit can transform your entire life and have a dramatic impact on your wellbeing.
Lowers Stress Levels: Sometimes, after a long and stressful day or week at work, all you need is to treat yourself to nice holiday vacation, somewhere sunny and warm. Sunlight is a great stress-buster; it gives you enough vitamin D and increases the brain’s release of serotonin, a hormone that is associated with mood-boosting and helping a person feel calm, cheerful, and stress-free. Taking some time to drink a glass of juice while enjoying the sun and the chirping of birds on your balcony or having a walk on a beautiful afternoon sunny day is far from ruining your work schedule. Instead, it will boost your mental health and allow you to work even better.
Always remember that, When you travel, you allow yourself the right to live.
When you travel, you immerse yourself in new activities, learn new skills and become a person with a positive mindset.
When you travel, your depression decreases, and your perspective on life changes for the better.
Travel more, live longer and happier.