Sweet Escapes

Did you know that travel is good for your wellbeing?

A significant amount of scientific research suggests that exploring a new place can do wonders for your mental and emotional health.

Here are five ways travelling makes your mind happy and healthy:

1. It helps you reinvent yourself.

Experiential travelling, particularly to a foreign country, can help you re-evaluate and reinvent your life. Travel has the ability to expand your mind in a way you never realised was possible.

Escape here: Time to think, imagine and plan ahead. Wherever you go.

Have time to think about you, your life, and the positive changes you wish to make

2. It boosts happiness and satisfaction.

The act of planning a trip gives you something to look forward to and can bring you happiness. Travelling brings new experiences that can boost your mood and self-confidence.

Escape here: Plan your once-in-a-lifetime trip. Collect travel books, ask people for recommendations, do your research. Go somewhere totally different to anywhere else you’ve been before. My recent ‘big trip’ was Vietnam.

Boost your happiness and satisfaction by planning a once-in-a-lifetime trip

3. It’s a great stress buster.

Taking a break from the stress of work and daily demands is essential for your mind to relax, recharge and rejuvenate.

Escape here: Digital detox and feel in touch with nature when you stay in a cabin in the mountains. Be alone with nature in the mountains in Montenegro.

Stress bust while staying in a remote cabin in the mountains

4. It makes you mentally resilient.

Going and living somewhere where you feel excited and intimidated at the same time can help you toughen up mentally and emotionally. Facing challenges in an unfamiliar environment, among new people, forces you to learn and adapt to life that’s out of your comfort zone.

Escape here: Take up a challenge on your holiday, something you haven’t experienced before. Like a trek around the lakes in Croatia.

Challenge yourself on your holiday to see how mentally strong you really are

5. Reap the benefits after returning from the trip.

Hold on to aspects of a travel experience that was pleasurable. Re-create the special moments you had on holiday when you return home.

Escape here: If you love the food you taste while you’re away, jot down recipes and pick up a few pieces of tableware from the local markets on your travels. When you’re home, try out the recipes to re-create some of the feelings you had while you were away.

Re-create the holiday feelings when you come home from your trip

All photos featured are from my feel-good travels around the world.

Where are you going next?

Written by Flora Firth

Instagram: @feelgoodflora
Twitter: @feelgoodflora
Facebook: @feelgoodflora