Travel has always fascinated people, and that’s why so many scientific studies have been – and are still being – carried out. Experts want to know what it is about travel that is so great and why we want to do it as much as possible.
One thing that these studies have discovered is that travel is actually good for you, both physically and mentally. There are so many different elements that come together to create the ideal travel/health situation, but even if you don’t meet all the criteria, you’ll still gain something out of your time away from home. With that in mind, here are just some of the health benefits of travel to think about.
Travel Keeps You Active
One of the most important reasons why travel is good for you is that it will keep you active. You might not think this is the case when you’re relaxing on a beach or wandering around a beautiful city, but it’s true.
The fact is that travel encourages you to do much more than you would at home, even if you don’t seem to be doing much. Just walking along the street to a restaurant could be more exercise than you do at home, and if you visit Paris and get Eiffel Tower tickets, just think of all the steps you’ll be climbing. You might not consider it exercise, but it is.
Travel Sharpens Your Mind
When you are stressed, your mind can actually shrink, according to research. This can lead to your mind becoming dull; you’re so used to routines and worry that you can’t think of anything else.
When you travel, you can sharpen your mind again. That’s because you’ll be out of your usual routine, and you’ll have to think about different things. Plus, because you’ll be busy seeing the sights or relaxing and not feeling stressed about anything because you’re away from it all, your mind will start to heal, and you’ll find that you can think more clearly. It might even be that those troubles that were causing you so many difficulties are solved because your mind is able to come up with an answer.
Travel Boosts Serotonin
We can all feel down sometimes, and some more than others. This isn’t always to do with the situations we find ourselves in (although that will certainly have some bearing); sometimes, it is down to the chemicals in our bodies being imbalanced. There is not enough serotonin and too much cortisol, for example, which means we feel anxious and stressed.
When you’re away from home and enjoying a great vacation, you will automatically be producing more serotonin, and that’s a good thing. You’ll feel more energetic and alert, happier, and, of course, much less stressed. This means you can enjoy your trip even more, and that will give you an even bigger positive hormone boost.
The key is to try to remember this feeling when you get back home and to do things that will ensure you produce serotonin even if you’re not on vacation. Hopefully, your trip will give you the knowledge you need to live your life in a more positive way from now on.
