This summer, many people already have big vacations planned. Others, however, are opting to skip the summer vacation in favor of working harder or saving money. Studies show this may not be the best option. In reality, travel is extremely good for your mind and body.
While some of the great writers like Ernest Hemingway, Mark Twain, and Aldous Huxley have shown us the benefits of travel in spurring creativity and improving cognitive function, science has only recently backed up their predictions.
Adam Galinsky, a professor at Columbia Business School, has performed several studies and found results in favor of travel. “Foreign experiences increase both cognitive flexibility and depth and integrativeness of thought, the ability to make deep connections between disparate forms,” he told The Atlantic. “The key, critical process is multicultural engagement, immersion, and adaptation. Someone who lives abroad and doesn’t engage with the local culture will likely get less of a creative boost than someone who travels abroad and really engages in the local environment.”
In other words, regular vacations are great if you’re willing to broaden your horizons and throw yourself into the experience. Millions have done so, and experienced a multitude of benefits.
6 Benefits of Travel
Travel is truly beneficial, so don’t wait any longer. Pack your bags, give yourself an at-home pedicure, and get ready to experience the perks of travel.
- Boosted Mood
Vacations often mean more sunshine, and more sunshine often means increased happiness. Those who deal with a vitamin D deficiency because of a lack of exposure to sunlight are more prone to depression. A well-planned vacation is often enough to get your spirits up and restore the necessary vitamins and chemicals in your body.
- Longer Life
Those who travel often tend to have a longer life expectancy. This is a direct result of reduced stress and a healthier body. It also boosts brain health, which reduces your aptitude for dementia and Alzheimer’s, letting you enjoy your life for longer and more fully.
- Emotional Stability
The stress, depression, anxiety, and other feelings that result from work can create instability in the mind. It’s more difficult to be happy and satisfied with your situation when you’re under these conditions, but travel can introduce stability that can heal the mind.
- Increased Creativity
When you are able to experience different cultures and scenery, your mind will become more creative. Studies have shown a strong connection between both increased creativity and a deeper sense of personal growth, which will help when you return to work.
- Strengthened Immunity
Traveling exposes you to a variety of environments, each with their own bacteria. Your body will develop stronger antibodies to keep you from getting sick, which boosts your immune system and will continue to protect you from bacteria, infections, and illnesses for the rest of your life.
- Healthy Heart
Avid travelers swear that constant movement is good for their hearts, and science backs up their claims. When people visit new locations, they usually go sightseeing, which requires a lot of walking. If they visit the beach, they usually go swimming. Both practices establish a deeper level of fitness, which protects the heart. The reduced stress and anxiety also significantly reduces the risk of heart attack or heart disease.
Summer will be over before you know it…so now is the perfect time to do some traveling. Though it may not be cheap, you’ll never forget the health benefits you experienced as a result.