Published on 29 October 2021

How Travel Affects The Human Mind.

Travelling how-travel-affects-the-human-mind
Table of Contents

As per World Health Organisation (WHO), mental health is a condition of well-being in which a person realizes their abilities, manages their everyday stresses, and contributes to their community.

Traveling is vital to staying positive and promoting a healthy lifestyle. Mental health is undoubtedly an integral factor in living a fulfilling life.
 
In this busy world, people forget to give their precious time to themselves. Living in the same routine can lead to mental illness ranging from more common conditions like Anxiety and depression to less common ones, like bipolar disorder.

Various reports have shown that 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 10 children suffer from mental illnesses during their lifetime. Furthermore, it has been argued that mental illness may lead to physical conditions. Let's see why mental is essential.

Importance Of Mental Health 

Mental health is similar to physical fitness and requires as much nurturing and upkeep. Traveling is a great way to maintain mental and emotional well-being and contributes to a happier and more fulfilling life. From the stage of childhood to adulthood, mental health is essential.

Having excellent mental health can bring many positive changes in you that can change your point of view toward life. Good mental health can help you to :

  • Be physically fit
  • Reduce stress in life
  • To work efficiently 
  • Give positive vibes
  • Have good relationships

There was a survey taken in America regarding how travel impacts humans. 80% of people feel stress-free after traveling for 2 to 3 days; this is how spanning positively impacted mental health. In the following passage, we have given how travel affects the mind. Let's dive into it.

Neuroscientific Research On The Effects Of Travel On The Human Mind?

Dr. Marian Diamond, a neuroscience professor who examined Einstein's brain, discovered the positive effects of traveling on the brain. She argued that new experiences could help boost cognitive powers.

In 1964, Dr. Diamond completely changed our understanding of the brain by performing a ground-breaking experiment. Her experiments with curious lab rats have produced the first concrete evidence of brain plasticity, i.e., the brain's ability to grow and change over time. The human brain & rat brain is similar in structure and function.

Only a short while back, the idea that life experiences could affect the brain was considered absurd. Scientists strongly believed that genes determined overall intellect; in other words, the brain's potential was inherited rather than developed.

But now, because of the findings in neuroscience, we understand that the world around us can enhance our cognitive performance.

How Can We Improve Our Brain Function?

The answer is simple—your environment.

  • Dr. Diamond discovered that the rats raised in enriched environments with other rats to interact with and plenty of toys had a thicker cerebral cortex than those grown in impoverished backgrounds with no other rats or objects to play with.
  • The same principle applies to the human brain.
  • Every enrichment to your environment, from gaining new experiences and going places to challenging yourself mentally and intellectually, propels the brain's action, leading to growth and redevelopment.
  • Scientific research suggests that one of the best ways to enrich our environment and lives is travel.

Effects Of Traveling On the Human Mind  

People in this fast-paced world tend to get stuck in their daily routines. The mind can quickly get sick and tired of doing the same activities over and over again. 

Dr. Paul Nussbaum, a clinical neuropsychologist from the University of Pittsburgh, says, "When you expose your brain to an environment that's novel and complex or new and difficult, the brain reacts,"

Luckily, we live in a world with abundant opportunities to shake that routine up by getting out there and exploring. Every new destination prefaces novelty to the mind, activating the cognitive networks that keep your brain refreshed and healthy. Following are some significant effects of traveling on mental health.

Reduce stress

Many researchers have studied that traveling is essential in reducing stress. In today's rush life, most people face mental illness due to stress or everyday routine. To overcome this stress, you should travel at least once a year. 

A New Experience

Traveling in another country, not even in the country. In various cities where you have not been can improve your mood by understanding their cultures. Meeting new people from several areas can make your mental health positive. This can be a good experience for you.

Improves creativity

It is shown that visiting new places can change your thinking towards life, which brings more creativity to your thought process.

Increase efficiency at work.

A study by Harvard Business showed that  94% of respondents amongst 400 travelers feel more energetic after completing their trip. It is seen that more energy can also boost the efficiency of working.

Things To Consider That Affect Mind

We all know that we can't travel every day, it is a thing which can be brought for one day to one month but cannot be for a lifetime, that's why it is necessary to keep your mental health refreshed. Here are two tips that can make your brain sharper

Do exercise for mental health

As we all know, we need to exercise daily to gain physical performance. The same situation goes with mental health; you must do regular mental workouts by doing various activities such as playing chess, solving chess, etc.     

Travel at least once a year.

As you know how traveling impacts positively on the human mind. We don't say travel every day, but traveling once a year may feel relaxed from all the stress. Playing outdoor games while on vacation can also make your brain sharper. 

Important Factors

Train your mind with new sights, people, activities, languages, flavors, and more. All the novelty and unfamiliarity that comes with traveling stimulate new connections between the brain's nerve cells, revitalizing your mind.

Have you ever returned from a trip and felt like you were born new and a different person altogether? That's your brain growing. Now that you know the benefits of travel, it's time to plan out and go somewhere; your mental health requires it.

Bottom Line From Practical Anxiety Solution

Traveling is an activity that creates memories in our minds that stay forever. As per science, traveling is the best medium to enrich our environment. Traveling has many benefits for physical and mental health, which generally brings an energy you haven't felt.

Traveling is unlike any activity where you travel worldwide. It is like where you travel around the world.

As a human being, It's necessary to plan atleast a one-day trip with your loved ones. But it doesn't mean you must travel to maintain your mental health. You can also improve your mental health by doing exciting activities such as playing outdoor games, spending time with yourself or your closest one, etc.  

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