Packing your bags and heading off on vacation is a great way to take care of your emotional and mental wellbeing. Studies have shown that travel can have huge positive benefits for mental health, as it gets you out of your boring routine, opens up your mind to new experiences, helps you meet new people and find new perspectives, and is often just plain-old calming and relaxing.
However, travel can, at times, be stressful. There are inevitable moments of tension and anxiety that come with foreign travel, and sometimes being in unfamiliar places and out of your comfort zone can be challenging for your mental health.
So, when traveling it is vital that you pay attention to how you are feeling, and take a few simple steps to make sure that your mental health is taken care of. That way, whether you are hiking mountains, visiting museums and galleries, or taking a cruise in 2022, you can do a little self-healing at the same time. Here are some of the most important ways to take care of your mental health while traveling.
Travel with intention
Whether you are traveling for business, pleasure, or to see family, being intentional about your travel is key to mental health. Setting an intention for your trip allows you to focus on a goal throughout, and always have something to keep you grounded and help you make the most of what you are doing. Having purpose is one of the most important parts of good mental health.
Be active
Physical exercise is such a huge part of being mentally healthy at all times, and there’s no reason why this should be different when you are on vacation. Traveling should be relaxing, of course, but try and integrate a little activity into every day. Your brain will thank you.
Upgrade your accommodation
If you do struggle with mental health issues, staying somewhere noisy, dirty, or just grim will not help matters. Treat yourself a little and splash out on that boutique hotel, and remember that self-care is a vital part of every vacation.
Eat right
There is a tendency to binge a little on food and drink when you are away, and understandably so! But try and mitigate the burger, fries, and beer with some healthier options too. Fresh juices, fruit bowls, and fresh fish straight from the sea are just as delicious, and will help keep you balanced, happy, and healthy in body AND in mind!
