One of my absolute favorite things to do is to fantasize about, research, and plan travel. My oldest friend is the same way, and we can spend hours on the phone together, sharing ideas about places to visit and travel itineraries, lamenting that we’re getting older and will never visit all of the places we feel drawn to. Post-pandemic, so many clients are sharing with us a renewed yearning to go to new places, have new experiences, and meet new people, after such a long period of being forced into becoming homebodies.
If you’re leaning into the planning of summer travel, know that you’ll reap benefits in terms of your mental and physical health:
- Travel reduces perceived stress and increases one’s overall sense of wellbeing, both during the trip and for a period of some weeks upon return. Stepping out of some of our daily obligations, reducing scheduling demands, spending time in nature or engaging in something of special interest, all contribute to this sense of wellbeing.
- Research has consistently demonstrated the benefits of travel on physical health. Some reasons for this might be obvious – e.g., often, travel involves more walking and physical activity. Interestingly, there may also be a link between higher vacation frequency and reduced risk of metabolic syndrome (intersecting conditions that lead to increase risk for heart attack, stroke, and diabetes). It’s likely that the beneficial effects of travel on stress also contribute positively to physical health outcomes.
- Travel encourages us to cultivate curiosity and an openness to new experiences. Letting go of the rigidity of day-to-day life often opens us up creatively, allowing us to consider ways we might wish to grow or change in our lives. It’s amazing what our brains are able to do when we don’t feel as though we’re just emotionally surviving every day. Similarly, traveling with a partner, significant other, or companion can result in a deepening of connection that isn’t always easy to come by in daily life.
What if you’re stressed by travel?
Travel is certainly not without struggle. Flying can be a nightmare, luggage or reservations can be lost, travel companions can be disagreeable, and it’s just possible that you might still have your kids with you when you’re traveling. How can you reap some of the benefits of travel, despite all of this?
- Don’t over schedule, especially on and around the days of actual travel – you’ll be less stressed when your flight is delayed if you don’t have tickets to an event on the night of your arrival.
- Early in the planning phases, sit down with your travel companion(s) and discuss values and goals around the trip – what are each of you looking for/needing out of the experience?
- If you’re traveling with kids, consider that everything will take longer and plan accordingly – e.g., leave plenty of time between connecting flights, plan extra time for activities to allow for naps and food breaks. Try to plan flexibly so that you can respond to your kids’ and family’s needs on a particular day if rest or something less structured is needed. Plan recovery time post-travel.
- Spontaneity in travel is great – the reality of this, however, can often be stressful. Don’t let a desire to be spontaneous mean that you haven’t done your research on the places you’re going, getting the lay of the land, knowing local resources, etc. One of the biggest stressors in travel is a sense of having wasted time – e.g., maybe you get on the wrong train and lose half a day before figuring this out. It’s OK to find ways to be spontaneous and open to new experiences, while also being equipped with information.
- Try to stick to a decent sleep schedule while traveling, bring all of your normal medications with you, and any vital comfort items (e.g., your special pillow).
Finally, keep in mind that travel doesn’t always need to involve planes or long road trips. There are new places and new experiences to be had all around us, and a myriad of ways to step away from our daily lives, embrace novelty, and open up to creativity and connectedness. Finding ways to incorporate such experiences into your life on a regular basis will help you to nurture your body and mind. Go forth!