Five reasons why travelling new places is good for your mental health
We get it, it is oh so relaxing to go back to a beloved spot all the time. But what about challenging your brain in an interesting way for a change? Every culture has its own traditions, customs and protocols, and some of them will naturally be at odds with what you’re used to. Once away from your comfort zone you learn new things since you are faced with unfamiliar foods, sounds, smells, you name it. All of this requires your brain to do some extra work which holds many benefits:
Flow
When being in a new place you process and make sense of all the new details. By that you have to go with the flow and also navigate unfamiliar situations. Visiting unknown places also means experiencing new cultures and adapting to your surroundings. This way your ability to navigate new scenarios with the appropriate verbal and non-verbal emotional responses increases.
Focus
Travel is linked to a greater ability to direct one’s attention and energy. This helps you to function effectively in different situations, be it at work or in private. By spending more time in unfamiliar places, you become more tolerant of your own discomfort and at the same time more confident in your ability to navigate challenging situations.
Empathy
Another good reason to discover new places is to develop empathy. By experiencing different cultures you see how things are done elsewhere. This improves your empathic abilities. Returning back home with greater empathy skills may help with your communication and relationships both in private and work settings.
Intimacy
Navigating through unfamiliar surroundings together builds connection and intimacy. This sense of togetherness develops emotional bonding which helps to build and strengthen a relationship – be it partners, friends, family or a group of strangers. Working in this bond in a foreign country increases your relationship’s adaptability and willingness to grow.
Interests
Exploring different cultures undoubtedly enriches our life. But it can also help us to explore our interests in a new way. We might fall in love with a new exotic sport or awaken interest in a foreign language. This might make us fall in love with this thing called life overall.