Studies have shown that our mental health can be affected by numerous factors. Nowadays people are generally more stressed whether it’s due to family life, cost of living, lack of family, health concerns, etc. I recently went on a trip with my daughter. Upon our return I quickly realised how much more energised and hopeful I felt the day after returning, this led me to do some research on the effects travel has on mental health. Below are my findings;
Improves sleep
If you struggle to sleep well at night travelling can offer you a chance to have better quality of sleep and increase the amount of sleep you get which is highly likely to clear your mind and enhance your creativity.
Reduces stress
Visiting new places gets your mind off stressful aspects of your life. Whatever you’re going through, a change of scenery can improve your stamina and help you feel refreshed. Relaxing on a holiday can reduce the levels of your stress hormones which gives your immune system an opportunity to recover and significantly lessen the amount of times you get sick.
Avoids and eliminates burnout
Burnout is caused by prolonged period of stress, the body is designed to handle short periods of stress, thus, when you experience constant stress your body cannot cope which can lead to health issues such as; chronic illness, heart disease, digestive complications, high blood pressure, insomnia, back pain, loss of interest, decreased immunity, etc. Burnout impacts your ability to function properly and makes you less eager to engage in regular activities causing you to detach. From the above, we can see that it is important to reduce, avoid and eliminate burnout. Travelling can help if you plan it in such a way that it gives you some free time to relax and reflect, while reflecting, you can pinpoint which areas are causing burnout and implement strategies to eliminate burnout. Incorporating holidays, short breaks, or staycations in your schedule can drastically reduce and eliminate burnout.
Travelling can decrease mental or cognitive fatigue
When you travel you don’t have to focus on your daily work or home tasks. Your thought process during your holiday is to do with new experiences, not the usual everyday tasks. This helps your mind reset, recharge and get the much needed mental boost. A few signs that indicate you may be experiencing mental fatigue are; finding it difficult to concentrate and staying focussed when following conversations, performing tasks and taking longer to complete mental tasks that someone else generally performs quicker. To combat this, plan a trip, it can get you excited and break the usual cycle. If you can’t afford to travel far, do something different not far from where you live, perhaps book a one or two night stay at a B&B in an area which has new things for you to discover. It doesn’t have to be expensive, it can be cheap and cheerful.
Travel can boost your confidence
When you step out of your comfort zone and explore a new environment you’re building your confidence through navigating an unfamiliar area. Overcoming new challenges that may arise while you’re on holiday can build confidence and boost your self esteem.
There are many other benefits of travel such as becoming more grateful for what you have at home. You may come across people who may be less fortunate. Travel can also inspire you to change course in relation to career or even motivate you to improve your work/life balance.
References
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/so-stressed-out-fact-sheet
https://hbr.org/2023/07/how-taking-a-vacation-improves-your-well-being
https://www.verywellmind.com/why-you-should-take-a-break-3144576#citation-2
Wellbeing Corner 
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