New Year and Insight on Travel? Where are you going?

Are you holding back from traveling and trying new things?

It turns out there are incredible health benefits to having new experiences. Travel/tourism is one of the top industries in the world. Clearly, it is something that many people love to do. But aside from giving us pleasure and the opportunity to try new things, why are so many people doing it? What are the benefits of traveling? It turns out, travel is really good for your mental health. Oddly enough, I first made this connection when I started exploring yoga and mindfulness. On my yoga mat, my biggest challenge was staying in the present moment. But when I traveled somewhere new, mindfulness came naturally. I felt fully engaged and present.

According to scientific research it’s all about novelty. When you explore somewhere new, try an unfamiliar activity or have a fresh experience, not only does your brain release dopamine, (a hormone associated with euphoria) but the experience creates cognitive stimulation, which improves your concentration and memory. What does that mean exactly? Well for one, it enhances the moment you are experiencing and it also increases your learning abilities. But that’s not all. Travel can also make you more creative. Research shows that the neural pathways of the brain (neuroplasticity) are impacted by environment and experience. Change your environment or have a new experience, and it can spark new neural pathways in your brain which enhances your creativity. These sound like pretty amazing benefits to me!