TRAVELLING IS GOOD FOR OUR MENTAL HEALTH!
As we are heading towards the summer and slowly out of a pandemic, many of us are considering taking the road or getting on a plane and visiting a foreign country. Let’s explore the many mental health and wellness benefits of travelling this summer:
Brain stimulation is always good for our mental health. Most of what we do in our daily lives is part of our routine and are tasks we perform without a thought. Getting away from our environment and routine is a great stimulation for our brain and a mood lifter.
While on vacation, we are often in a special mindset of relaxation and exploration. Some travel could be stressful, but when at destination, we can relax and recover from a year of work and stress. We most often engage in activities we might not have the chance to pursue at home such as water sports or mountain hiking or just lounging on a beach… Being active boosts our secretion of “feel good neurotransmitter” such as dopamine and in turns, boosts our moods alleviating our anxiety and depression.
Another benefit of stepping away from our routine is introspection. Going away will not cure our problems but removing ourselves from our environment can help us reflect and expose us to different perspectives or options we would not have imagined by staying home. Something that seems so important at home, might reveal itself as mildly important while away and we might gain different insights or find new answers to our challenges. Our inner conflicts fuel our depression and anxiety and comes from a disconnect between our values and the state of our lives. As our brain is more alert, it is a great time to reconnect with ourselves, our values, and priorities. Use that time to examine the disconnects and find options to realign…
Travelling is also a unique opportunity to create new memories with the people we love and reconnect away from the stress and speed of our normal lives. Research shows that, because we are inherently social individuals, one of the main factors to gain a sense of fulfillment and happiness, is the quality of our connections and relationships with others. Creating common experiences while travelling can help us deepen those connections and enrich our common history as a family or couple.
During our daily routine and the speed of our lives, most of us have lost connection to the present moment and noticing and enjoying the simple things in life. Because a lot is new while travelling, especially to unfamiliar destinations, we are more alert, our senses are heightened which propels us into the present moment. Living in the present moment is known to reduce blood pressure, anxiety, and depression. We might be noticing the sound of an unfamiliar bird or enjoying the taste of new spices and cuisine…
Unfortunately, not everybody can afford to travel, some of us have been hardly hit with the pandemic. You can still reap the same benefits from a staycation. Slow down, do more self-care, more introspection, small improvements to your home, and enjoy more quality time with friends and family!
For all those benefits and more, we hope everyone of you takes the opportunity to get away and our MRC team is wishing you and your family a healthy and happy summer!…
If you need our help this summer, we are here for you!
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