Travel Therapy – How Exploring New Places Benefits Your Brain
Travel is a luxury that offers us a unique opportunity to expand our horizons and experience the world around us. In this blog post, we’ll be shedding light on how it impacts the brain, including the effects on cognitive function, stress levels, creativity, and mental resilience.
Mental stimulation
We’ve touched a lot on the unquestionable benefits of mental stimulation in previous blogs, and traveling is another excellent way to be in a novel situation. Depending on the type of travel, there may be new cultures, different languages, and fresh cuisines. Even if it’s just a local trip, discovering unfamiliar terrain brings the brain’s neuroplasticity into play.
When we’re in a different environment, our brain is in a constant state of flexibility, taking in a whole host of new information that it wouldn’t otherwise in our regular daily routines. As a result, travel can stimulate a whole range of crucial cognitive functions, such as problem-solving, spatial awareness, and memory. And what does all of this rich, immersive stimulation encourage? You got it: the formation of new neural pathways!
Creativity
Similarly, one thing that often comes with new environments is a renewed sense of inspiration. Seeing things from a different perspective can ignite innovative new thoughts and get those creative juices flowing. Not only can such feelings help to reduce anxiety and depression, but they can also lead to long-term improvements in our cognitive function and neuroplasticity.
Stress and mental health
It’s well documented that chronic stress is a key contributor to all manner of health issues, including poor mental health and cognitive decline. Engaging in travel allows us important time to disconnect from some of our everyday stressors and instead engage with the unique environments around us.
In fact, traveling stimulates the release of the feel-good neurotransmitter dopamine, the hormone associated with pleasure and reward. This excitement of getting to know somewhere that is unlike where we spend most of our time can have a hugely beneficial effect on both our mental health and our overall emotional well-being.
Strength and resilience
Traveling often comes with new sets of challenges and occasionally situations that allow us the opportunity to build strength and resilience. Whether it be a flight delay or scaling difficult terrain, adapting to changing situations requires a heightened level of mental agility. Putting ourselves in these situations allows the brain to strengthen its ability to deal with adverse situations in the future.
One interesting study encapsulates just how impactful travel is. In 2002, Sussex University in the UK measured the sense of well-being in two groups of people: those who had a trip planned and those who didn’t. The first group reported enjoying life to a greater extent and experiencing fewer negative feelings. Just remember, travel doesn’t have to be lavish, but anything that switches things up will have a significant impact on your brain health and your mental health, both now and in the future.