As the weather improves, I hope you’re finding yourself with some time and energy for exploration. Travel can offer the sense of rejuvenation that many of us need.

Being in unfamiliar places can help create new neural pathways in our brains, exemplified by an increase in creativity and problem solving. We are more able to see things from a different perspective and see ourselves in new context. We’re also more likely to digitally detox on a trip, which many of us desperately need. Travel may seem like a fleeting and frivolous endeavor, but it can give us something positive to anticipate and look back on with joy. There are a few things that you can do to make the most of your time traveling away from home or exploring your own area a bit more.

It’s great to have a general itinerary for a trip. However, when things don’t go according to a detailed plan, we can be filled with anxiety. It’s best to have a general plan with some wiggle room. Give yourself as much time as possible to go from place to place. Exploring at a reasonable pace helps us feel more present and less likely to be anxious.

Due to being further from home and familiar faces, travel can increase our sense of emotional distress, as well as amplify preexisting mental health conditions. It can be good to check in with yourself by practicing emotional mindfulness during your trip to stay aware of what you need in each moment.

It’s important that we travel for ourselves and for reasons beyond feeling like we should. There’s no shame in a staycation, if that’s truly what’s best for you in the long run. Or more simple forms of travel may be best. Day trips can be a great option for saving money and being able to travel more frequently.

However you decide to do it, I would encourage you to inject some novelty into your life. Travel is a great way to do just that. If you’d like more tips on travel, please search the Ohio State University Employee Assistance Program (EAP) portal at https://osu.mylifeexpert.com/. Stay safe and take care!

Resources:

https://www.jcmh.org/how-to-handle-travel-stress/

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/mental-health

https://drifttravel.com/the-mental-health-benefits-of-traveling/