Traveling for leisure is not only fun, but it also benefits your physical and mental health, whether you are exploring a city, enjoying beautiful views, or breathing in the fresh air of a village.
If you are fortunate enough to afford travel, here are six benefits of tourism that may inspire you.
Travel Keeps Your Heart Healthy
If you are used to sightseeing in cities or nature, you probably walk five to six kilometers or 10,000 steps daily, which is a great guide for moderate exercise. Using this habit for travel and other activities can greatly benefit your health.
In the 1948 Framingham Research survey, women were contacted 20 years later, and it was found that women who only traveled once in six years had eight times the risk of heart disease and heart attacks compared to those who traveled twice a year. However, factors like obesity and smoking were not included in the survey.
Another study by researchers at New York State University followed 12,000 men over nine years who were at high risk of coronary artery disease. Men who didn’t travel annually were 32% more likely to die from heart attacks.
It Makes You Feel Young Again
According to the Global Coalition on Aging, stress and pressure speed up the aging process. They claim that mental stress acts like a daily shot of cortisol in the body, weakening the immune system and increasing the risk of diseases like kidney damage, headaches, and intestinal inflammation.
Fortunately, the positive effects of leisure travel are seen quickly. A 2012 Expedia survey found that people needed only a day or two to feel calm after reaching a vacation spot. In 2002, researchers at the University of Surrey in the UK suggested that just planning a leisure trip or thinking about it creates positive feelings and increases life satisfaction.
It Sharpens Your Mind
Travel allows us to engage in brain-enriching activities like trying new foods, experiencing new environments, and hearing different languages. The Global Coalition on Aging reports that engaging in local cultural activities and learning about new places not only makes us smarter but also helps protect against neurological diseases like Alzheimer's.
According to Dr. Paul D. Nussbaum of Pittsburgh University, "Traveling is like good medicine." He says that traveling enhances the brain's ability to handle different and new experiences, promoting lifelong mental health and flexibility.
It Enhances Your Creativity
In his book "A Technique for Producing Ideas," American advertising executive James Webb Young advises students and aspiring marketing professionals, "If you want to come up with a good idea, you should not think about it."
He didn’t mean that ideas came to him from nowhere, but rather that after initially thinking about his subject, his mind lit up when he distracted himself with activities like watching movies. Neuroscientists say that new environments and experiences reconnect our brain’s wiring and strengthen our minds.
"Cognitive flexibility," the ability to think between different ideas, is closely linked to creativity. It's no coincidence that famous artists like Paul Gauguin, Ernest Hemingway, and Igor Stravinsky created their best work during or after traveling.
It Improves Your Performance
Work-related exhaustion is spreading like an epidemic in offices. Employees buckle under the pressure, healthcare systems struggle to treat widespread mental illness, and companies worldwide suffer from reduced performance, absenteeism, accidents, and compensation claims.
According to estimates by the American Institute of Stress, stress costs the American industry $300 billion annually.
Dr. Shimi Kang, author of "The Neuroscience of Happiness and Optimal Health," says that giving the mind time to rest refreshes it completely and helps with problem-solving and idea organization.
It Offers Personal Growth Opportunities
Research suggests that if you are young and can spend some time abroad, the experience will greatly benefit your personal development.
Dr. Franz Neyer and Dr. Julia Zimmermann of Friedrich Schiller University in Germany compared the personal growth of 3,000 German students who spent a semester or more abroad with those who studied at home.
The results showed that students who went abroad were more sociable than those who stayed in the country. After returning, students showed greater emotional stability and willingness to try new experiences.
Researchers say, "During the transition from adolescence to adulthood, most people become more conscientious, understanding, and emotionally stable."
No matter your age or how you like to travel, you can enjoy the full benefits of leisure by taking some time out to relax.
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