Over 75% of Americans say they want to travel more than they do currently. However, a lot of time, responsibility, or money stops us from living our dreams. Don’t let that get in your way.
There is simply no better feeling than packing your bag and going on an adventure. You can gain experiences which change your life forever—from meeting people of different cultures to sampling food you never imagined.
You can’t expect the moments of transformation to come to you. You need to go out there and learn how to change your life completely through travel.
Here we go!
1. Gets You Out of Your Comfort Zone
For many travelers, it is about discovering relaxing and calm places to get away from the world. But if you want to travel to change your life, you’re going to need to dig a little deeper.
If you want to really challenge your mind, then you need to get out of your comfort zone regularly. We’re not learning about life unless we move beyond our safe spaces.
When we challenge ourselves, we build cognitive reserve which keeps us healthy and resilient. Especially if we learn a new language while we’re traveling.
2. You Learn More While Traveling
According to scientists from Yale, we learn more in unstable environments. It actually boosts our brain capacity to not know what’s coming next.
When the brain can easily predict what’s going to happen, it goes into autopilot. You stop thinking!
When you return to the same store every day, your brain is not alert, but simply going through the motions. But if you’re constantly surrounded by new environments, your brain needs to process the information constantly.
3. It Challenges Unconscious Bias
Up to 95 percent of people display signs of unconscious bias. This is when we make assumptions and prejudice about people before we really get to know them.
The same goes for traveling to other countries with different cultures from our own. We’re familiar with the media representations of particular groups.
And yet, when we travel, we challenge our bias and prejudice like never before. And along the way, you don’t just learn about other cultures. You also discover something about yourself.
4. It Makes You Reach Out to Make Connections
You can go anywhere in the world to travel. However, it’s possible to come away without actually connecting with the people who live there.
You can travel to Thailand and stay on an island to party the whole time. You may never encounter a conversation with a local the entire time you’re there.
It’s up to you to reach out to people to make connections. Ask about their culture, or try the cuisine to share an experience.
You can also take the opportunity to meet other travelers from around the world. Instead of staying in a fancy hotel where you don’t talk to anyone, you can switch to a hostel to get to know other people.
5. It Builds Self-Confidence
Over 85 percent of people suffer from low self-confidence and self-esteem. Traveling could change this forever by boosting your confidence—even your financial confidence.
You might not be sure if you can stand on your own two feet. But when you’re traveling, you need to stick to a strict budget.
During your traveling trip, you’ll learn tips and tricks along the way to save money. The ability to be financially savvy can be a real improvement to your confidence.
You’ll get thrown into a bunch of different challenging situations. When you come out the other side okay, you’ll feel like you can conquer the world.
6. It Keeps You from Being a Picky Eater
Do you turn your nose up at ingredients all the time? Are you fussy about what you eat?
It’s impossible to continue to be a picky eater once you’ve traveled around the world. Many people are quite picky about particular foods.
Whether it’s snails in Paris or bok choy in China, you need to get used to trying things you don’t get at home.
7. It Makes You More Interesting
Around 60 percent of adults think that their lives are “too grown-up.” They don’t have anything interesting to share with their friends and family anymore!
Are you tired of being the boring one at dinner parties? Do you want to come across as interesting to strangers?
You can guarantee when you return from your travels you’ll have dozens of stories to share with others. You’ll go from being the party pooper to the life and soul after your traveling adventure!
8. It Forces You to Try New Things
When you’re traveling you need to grab every opportunity to try something new.
Don’t just sit in your hotel and sulk. You can only make the most of your experience if you get out there are try everything which you encounter.
Do you have the chance to go scuba diving? Do it for real—rather than splashing around in the bath at home!
Can you learn someone else’s language? It’s better to learn from the people who speak the language, rather than in a stuffy classroom back home.
Have you got the opportunity to experience the vaccine of the forest? You can find out more here!
Now You Know How to Change Your Life Completely
You don’t have to simply accept the cards you’re given. Start saving for the traveling trip of a lifetime. Did you ever hear anyone say they traveled too much in life?
Now you know how to change your life completely by going on a traveling adventure. Are you ready for your next travel trip?
Check out our 5 tips for preparing for your next adventure here!