We don’t think we need to convince you that travelling is pretty much the most awesome thing you can do with your spare time. Engaging with other cultures, learning new things, and getting away from the daily grind is something that you’d have to be crazy to not be into. But still, lots of people avoid chances for travel because they view it as wasting time. There’s plenty of work to be done, so why should you head out on a vacation? Well, here’s one important reason: travelling, while obviously fun, can also offer some serious health benefits.
Stress relief
This one might seem a little obvious, but trust us, that doesn’t make it any less important. Going on a fun trip is a way of unplugging from the “real world” and forgetting about all of your problems. It might be hard to stop thinking about a difficult work day if you’re sitting at home, but pondering over job troubles while you’re relaxing in the sun on the beach? Nearly impossible. What about enjoying a spa day in a beautiful location? Yeah, definitely impossible.
If you’re the type of person who takes worrying to an Olympic level, you might even want to consider a more hands-on type of travel, like a camping trip or a vacation with plenty of different stops and activities. You’ll find that it keeps you so busy that you simply won’t have time to think about your normal day-to-day woes.
We don’t need to tell you this, but reducing your stress levels can be a huge godsend to your health. It can bolster your immune system, improve your sleep patterns, help you fight off depression or anxiety, and prevent high blood pressure. So yeah, a relaxing vacay is basically the best medicine ever.
It can toughen up your immune system
In addition to simply bringing down your stress levels, travel can make you healthier with something that seems quite counter-intuitive. When you visit somewhere new, you get exposed to a whole slew of foreign germs that your body isn’t used to. (Before you swear off travel completely, hear us out!) In turn, your immune system becomes adjusted to a variety of different pathogens, and it winds up being much stronger and more resilient as a result. Don’t go overseas with the goal of getting sick (who wants that?), but just know that the saying, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” actually applies here.
It’s like a non-stop workout
If you’ve ever gone on a walking tour during a vacation, you know exactly what we’re talking about. Most types of travel will keep you super active as you run around whatever place you’re in trying to see everything at once. This is essentially a type of exercise that you don’t even notice you’re doing, and your body will thank you for it.
It’s also super easy to work in a bit more activity into a vacation in ways that are super fun. You could ride a bike through the city streets, go on a canoeing exploration along a river, hike to the top of an exotic mountain, or any other number of exciting adventures. You’ll be burning calories and toning your muscles in a natural way, and it definitely beats going to the gym for those of us who don’t like that kind of environment.
It’s very easy to write off travel as something that’s totally unnecessary for you, but that couldn’t be farther from the case. In addition to just being plain fun and interesting, it has a myriad of health benefits, both physical and mental. If you’re someone who tends to work themselves silly, try to take a break this year and see somewhere new in the world. You might be surprised at the benefits it gives you!
