Traveling makes us happier and can even reduce the risk of having a heart attack. So why not do it? Even when we can have a job that we love and an active social life, nothing can compare with the experience that a trip can provide. Visiting other places changes our perspective of the world and, through people, culture, clothing, food and music we appreciate more how wonderful it is to live
People who travel constantly, like the digital nomads know how exhilarating and exciting it can be. Whether you travel to another country or the next town you live in, traveling is an experience that is not only enjoyed, but it also translates into benefits to our health and state of mind.
5 benefits
- The happiness of planning the trip According to a study carried out in the United Kingdom, people feel particularly happy when the holidays are approaching, because this can mean travel. The excitement of choosing the destination, buying plane tickets, preparing the suitcase and waiting for the trip in general often cause great joy. This is due, according to the study’s argument, to the fact that the level of the pleasant effect in people changes positively and, consequently, increases their well-being. In addition, another study suggests that the anticipation of the trip may be even more pleasant than the anticipation of acquiring a material good.
- Against stress and negative emotions When work is something that really overwhelms us, traveling is not always with the purpose of knowing new places, but simply to get away, as much as possible, from the negative things of our life. According to the stress survey conducted by the American Psychological Association, vacations and trips can help manage stress and negative emotions by eliminating the environments and activities that are sources of our stress. It is even believed that a trip can help to re-establish our emotions, making us more compassionate in certain situations.
- Not to get depressed And is that, who would be depressed while traveling on a cruise in the Caribbean? In the cities life goes much faster and, between the constant bustle in work and traffic while driving can cause serious problems of depression and irritability, which in turn directly influences the general welfare. According to the results of the study conducted by the Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin, women who travel only once every two years are more likely to suffer from depression and stress than women who go on vacation at least twice a year. Changing the house or office and the activities we do on a daily basis for a different environment with different activities can bring a lot of benefits at the psychological level; For example, the mind can restore, as well as the body, the effects accumulated by being subjected to long periods of stress.
- Enriching our experiences As followers of the minimalist lifestyle preach, material possessions do not always bring true happiness and, if they do, it is a momentary happiness as material things become old, wear out and depreciate. Not so pleasant experiences like traveling. Both long and short trips are an accumulation of enriching experiences due to exposure to totally new environments to which we are used; like the culture, traditions and perspectives of the trip. That fact was highlighted in a study by Cornell University that showed that buying travel experiences makes us happier in the long run than buying material things.
- Traveling reduces the risk of a heart attack Although heart attacks are on the rise due to different causes related to diet and lack of physical activity, studies have found that men who do not usually take vacations for several years are 30% more likely to have a heart attack. In contrast, men who travel regularly are 21% less likely to suffer such an attack. Women who travel just once every six years are eight times more likely to have a heart attack. Although the findings seem surprising, it is clear that travelers tend to be more active than people who spend most of their time in an office chair. Hiking, mountaineering, snorkeling and walking are activities that are often carried out by travelers and that increase the physical and mental health of those who do them.