Travel is on my mind a lot this year! We’ve taken the big decision to test out the digital nomad life of working and travelling. Kind of. We’re in the hugely privileged position of both being our own bosses and being able to work from anywhere in the world. There’s no denying that there’s a multitude of ways travelling can make you happier and it’s something we’re both excited about exploring this year. So let’s take a look at the ways travelling can make you happier and a bit about our plans for the year.
Trying Out the Digital Nomad Life
Being a digital nomad is something that has fascinated me for years now. Being tied to a job in education was such a far cry from that lifestyle though and I never thought working for myself was a possibility. Up until 5 months ago when I quit my job and became self-employed. It’s opened up a whole new world of opportunities to us as my husband has been self-employed for almost 6 years now. This year we’re dipping our toes into the digital nomad life and I cannot wait.
Without a doubt, the biggest perk of what we do is having the freedom to work from anywhere. Balancing work with being somewhere nice and warm sounds perfect to me. I’m imagining a few hours of work and then being able to switch off and enjoy our beautiful surroundings. We both work a lot but I would say my work-life balance feels so much healthier now I’m my own boss and I think testing out the digital nomad lifestyle will only improve that.
Additionally, it’s allowing us to bring back our YouTube channel and share our journey. Even just writing this blog post is bringing me so much joy and sparking my creativity. As we’re both freelance writers, I can see how being a digital nomad will enhance our productivity and create that sense of adventure and fulfilment that I’ve always wanted.
10 Ways Travelling Can Make You Happier
Travelling has been shown to have numerous positive effects on mental and emotional well-being. Numerous studies and personal anecdotes can affirm that travel has the power to elevate our spirits and contribute to a more fulfilling life. Whether it’s the stress-reducing effects of a change in scenery or the enrichment gained through cultural exploration, here are 10 ways travelling can make you happier:
1. Stress Reduction
Travelling allows you to break away from the stresses of daily life. The change of scenery and the excitement of exploring new places contribute to a decrease in stress levels, promoting relaxation and a sense of calm.
I don’t know about you but when I have something to look forward to I find myself a lot more motivated and productive. I went years without being able to do anything other than the odd night or two away in the U.K. which I know is still a lovely position to be in, but now I do have more travel options available to me, I fully embrace that time to be stress-free.
But, there are scientific studies to back up that stress reduction is just one of the ways travelling can make you happier. In 2020 a study was published in the journal Nature that found that people who experience more changes in scenery tend to be happier!
2. Broadened Perspectives
Exposure to different cultures, traditions, and perspectives during travel broadens your worldview. This expanded understanding can lead to increased tolerance, empathy, and a more open-minded approach to life, all of which can contribute to overall happiness.
Travelling offers a unique opportunity to step outside the familiar confines of your culture and immerse yourself in global diversity. The ability to navigate and appreciate the world around you not only enriches personal growth but also contributes significantly to overall happiness, as we experience the interconnectedness of humans around the globe.
3. Creation of Positive Memories
Some of my fondest memories are from holidays, and I’m sure that’s the same for you too. And that’s no coincidence. Travelling creates an abundance of positive memories. These experiences become stories that you can share and reminisce about, fostering a sense of nostalgia and joy even when you’re back at home and life feels a little mundane.
I have no idea where life will take us after this year’s travel plans. I know I’m hoping that the digital nomad lifestyle is something that we can continue to explore but if all I get from it is a year of positive memories that is more than enough for me. The things we’re going to see and do will be amazing and it’s this lasting sense of positivity that I love about all the ways travelling can make you happier.
4. Increased Creativity
Experiencing new environments and cultures can stimulate creativity. Whether it’s trying local foods, exploring art, or just a simple change of scenery, travel provides a fresh and inspiring backdrop for creative thinking. This is great considering we’re both freelance writers so that creative spark needs constant refuelling!
When I quit my job I told myself I’d have more time for blogging and well it never quite worked out that way but I have so many content ideas buzzing around my head now and I’m excited to see where it all goes. This increase in creativity is just one of the ways travelling can make you happier and I’m absolutely buzzing about this!
Also, for those of you who don’t know, we used to vlog then kind of just stopped. Now with all these exciting plans, we’ve decided to revive our YouTube channel which I’m really excited about. Creatively, just having these plans has given me a whole new love for my blog and YouTube, so I can’t wait to see what happens once we start travelling more!
5. Boosted Mood Through Adventure
Taking part in adventurous activities, whether that’s exploring a historical location, hiking in the mountains or trying something new releases feel-good endorphins which can boost your mood. A new accomplishment along with the excitement can do wonders for your overall feelings of happiness.
I love truly taking time out to relax, going for a dip in the pool or the sea and reading my book in the sunshine but being surrounded by so much new beauty soon has me heading out exploring. Adventure doesn’t have to mean doing something thrilling all the time, just the joy of exploring and appreciating what is around you can be enough to get that feel-good boost.
6. Quality Time With Loved Ones
It’s fair to say I see a lot of my husband, as we’re both self-employed and both work from home we’re around each other a lot. But is that time quality time together? Rarely! We’re both pretty busy and while my husband likes to have lots of little side projects going on at the end of a work day I like a long hot bath and binge-watching MAFS! So the quality time together isn’t always there.
Travelling provides a great opportunity to spend some proper one-on-one time together and even though we will be working, our hours will be greatly reduced when we’re travelling so we can fully embrace being somewhere new and spend time together too. Lots of aspects of our jobs are closely aligned so it’ll be nice to close the laptop after a couple of hours and forget all about work whilst being in the sunshine.
7. Mindfulness and Living in the Moment
Hands up, who else is guilty of wishing their life away waiting for the weekend or waiting for summer when it’s autumn or counting down to the next holiday? I definitely am. It’s very rare I live in the present and appreciate what’s going on in the here and now and it’s certainly something I’m trying to change.
Having lots of little trips booked takes away from counting down to that one big holiday a year and even though I am mindful of how long I have to wait for each trip that huge urge to wish time away isn’t there.
Living in the moment is just one of the ways travelling can make you happier as you truly appreciate what is around you. Taking in the scenery, trying new food or just waking up somewhere new can help with the feeling of overall well-being as you appreciate your life and what you’ve achieved to get to where you are.
8. Increased Satisfaction with Life
I don’t want to say I’m a negative Nelly but well I kind of am. I’m pessimistic about a lot of things and I’m quick to see the negatives. It’s something I’ve been working really hard on over the past few years as although I don’t believe in forced positivity and the idea of finding the good in every single situation can be just as damaging for your mental health, I’ve been working on finding a better balance between everything being perfect and everything being crap!
I am very aware that it’s a privileged position to be in finding ways travelling can make you happier but I do believe that travel increases your satisfaction with life. From the anticipation to the trip itself and the memories that you’re left with, research shows that frequent travellers are happier.
The thing is when you mention travel people assume you mean backpacking around the world or a road trip across America. It doesn’t have to be that extravagant and even just exploring more in your own country can lead to those higher levels of satisfaction.
9. Personal Growth
Travelling can mean stepping outside of your comfort zone. For me working and travelling is going to be something brand new and navigating that unfamiliarity along with exploring new places can only lead to a sense of achievement.
Through encounters with unfamiliar situations and challenges, travellers cultivate problem-solving skills and resilience, gaining confidence in their abilities to navigate new situations. Travel encourages individuals to confront their comfort zones, pushing boundaries and igniting a sense of adventure and curiosity. Whether it’s navigating foreign streets, overcoming language barriers, or connecting with strangers from different walks of life, each experience contributes to personal growth, shaping individuals into more confident, empathetic, and culturally aware global citizens.
10. Connection with Nature
I do not spend enough time outside especially since I started working from home and even though I know how good it is for my mental health, it honestly feels like a chore most of the time. I know I just need to get myself back into the healthy habit and hopefully, a little time spent travelling can help with that!
We all know the link between being outside in nature and the benefit to mental health so it’s only natural that when we travel and spend more time outside exploring we will begin to notice the calming effect and a reduction in stress leading to feeling happier overall.
In conclusion, the benefits of travelling extend far beyond the destination itself. By embracing new experiences, cultures, and challenges, you can enhance your well-being and cultivate a lasting sense of happiness. With these 10 ways travelling can make you happier, you will have a better understanding of your travel experiences and a higher appreciation for the benefits that come from seeing the world!
Do you have any travel plans? Share them in the comments below!
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