It’s this time of the year again. The weather gets colder, the days get shorter, the clothes get warmer and you spent more time inside. Summer seems further and further away and it gets harder to remember what the sun felt like on your bare shoulders. Wouldn’t it be great to be at the beach somewhere and get a tan? (And even better if you could develop yourself and help others while doing it?)
Luckily, you can jump on a plane and summer is only a few hours away! But if this isn’t enough reason for you to travel this winter, here are five more:
- You will learn to live with less
Unfortunately taking your entire wardrobe (or your entire room) on a trip abroad is pretty much impossible. Packing forces you to really think about what you are going to need – and what items you absolutely can’t live without. Knowing you have to carry these things around makes you think twice before packing the 5th pair of shorts. And you will see, you won’t even miss it! Need some general advice for packing? Check out this website for some tips!
But it’s not only about clothes and personal belongings. While traveling you will consume less in general. It’s way more fun to spend your money on experiences, going out and sightseeing than on new things. And once you experienced that you can live with a lot less, you can implement it in your daily life at home. With less items taking away your attention, you are left with more energy to focus on everything that truly brings you joy.
- You will learn how awesome you are
A lot of the plans you have and make while traveling will not work out. Maybe better things happen instead. Maybe not. But you will see that you are okay, whatever situation you are confronted with. There’s always the next stop on the road, new people to meet and new adventures waiting for you. Seeing that you can handle all the situations traveler’s life throws at you will give your confidence an extra boost.
- You learn to take care of your health
There are numerous studies that show vacations are good for your physical and mental health. One study for example showed that there is a direct connection between annual travelling and all-cause mortality. Another study deals with the correlation between depression and vacation among women in Wisconsin, USA. Women who took vacations at least twice a year were less prone to depression and tension.
Traveling for better health? Sounds good to me!
- You learn to live in the moment
When traveling, you don’t know what the next moment will bring. You are forced to live in the now, to enjoy the places you visit, to concentrate on the people you meet. In everyday life it is so easy to worry about the last test you weren’t good at or the assignment that is due next week. Our thoughts often drift to events in the past or future taking our focus away from the now. While traveling, you realize how valuable the events of the present are. You can let yourself be surprised by the happenings of the future and use all your energy to enjoy the fascinating beauty of the present moment. This skill is not to underestimate in your life back home. It will make your studies, your job and relationships a lot better.
- You learn to appreciate home
Coming home after some time abroad allows you to see things differently and to implement all the amazing things you learned while traveling. So you are not only getting to know new places. You will get to know and worship your home country, friend circle and family even more.“
This quote by Terry Pratchet sums it up perfectly:
“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.“
So what are you waiting for? Go abroad in the upcoming winter holidays and enjoy all the amazing benefits traveling brings along.
Start preparing now and check out the projects AIESEC has to offer!
Contact us and we’ll help to get you on the road!
