For those of you who feel like you may be in a rut, or just plain bored, or blah, or seeking an adventure maybe the answer will be to plan a trip! Whether is it across the river, across the country or across the world, whether you travel by plane, train, automobile or ship, getting out of your current environment is actually good for you!
Traveling for Adventure
Maybe you have always wanted to ride a camel in the desert or go white-water rafting down the Colorado River. Maybe your bucket list includes climbing a mountain or scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef…or even just the Gulf of Mexico! Adventures don’t have to be physical, though. Perhaps you have always wanted to go pizza-hopping in New York City or dining at the Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco (if that’s your dream, be sure you always have freshly brushed teeth and a clean tongue so you don’t waste that culinary adventure!) Perhaps you are into flowers and would love to visit botanical gardens such as Selby Gardens in Sarasota, FL or the New York Botanical Garden (and we won’t even mention the Tuilleries of Paris 😉 ) Whatever your adventure, traveling to find it is good for you!
Sounds like fun, but why is that healthy?
Here are some reasons getting away from it all is good for you, even if you end up camping in your backyard – just leave the electronics in the house and go star-gazing!:
- Traveling is good for your heart – Travel removes you from your daily stressors, and it has been proven by the Framingham Heart Study that men and women who traveled annually were less likely to suffer a heart attack or develop heart disease.
- Travel is good for your brain – Travel increases happiness and decreases depression. It is, in essence, a reset button for your mind. It also promotes thought, improves cognitive function and positively impacts your concentration and the ability to absorb and learn new things!
- Travel improves your physical condition – Maybe you think because you sat in that car for hours to get to your destination that can’t be right, but studies show that once you reach your destination, you tend to walk more as you explore new places (even if you aren’t on that mountain trek!)
- Travel improves your longevity – By giving yourself a break from stress, continuing to learn, maintaining good physical health and helping your heart health, you are contributing to the length and quality of your life!
So Get Packing!
Start thinking about where you have always wanted to go, and what you have wanted to experience and see. Think about your own travel adventure and make a plan! It will not only be fun…it will be healthy!
