Why Traveling Is Important for Your Health
Needing a reason to take a vacation is hardly something you’d expect from most working adults. But it’s becoming more and more common to leave the vacation days sitting in the hypothetical bank. However, it turns out that getting away from the everyday grind isn’t just a luxury — it actually has plenty of health benefits for both your physical and psychological states. The bottom line? Traveling is important for your health — here’s your golden ticket to pack your bags and get away for a while.
It Boosts Your Immune System
Contrary to popular belief, being exposed to new bacteria can actually be healthy for you. New bacteria introduced into your body is what triggers your immune system to produce antibodies, or the proteins that fight off harmful pathogens. Just like there are different allergens in different areas of the world, bacteria internationally can be very different too. We’re not saying you shouldn’t practice basic hygiene — but being exposed to different environments can strengthen your immune system in the long run.
It Lowers Your Stress Levels
We’ve heard this one before, but sometimes it feels a little contradictory. Like when you get back from a vacation and you have that “I need a vacation from my vacation” feeling. But the truth is, research continues to show us that traveling boosts our happiness levels and reduces depression and anxiety overall. And those effects don’t go away once you come home — they can last for weeks following your return.
It Improves Creativity
Tell that to your boss when they give you side-eye. Because travel exposes us to new experiences and gets us outside of our box, it often spurs fresh ideas that we never would have otherwise considered. Encountering new cultures and environments helps us see things from a different perspective — a crucial characteristic of creative thinking. Plus, the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology have found that those who travel are usually more emotionally stable. How’s that for psychological benefits?
Whether you’re taking time to de-stress or just want to enjoy the art and food world of a new place, there’s one end-all reason that traveling takes the cake: it brings joy.
- Lifestyle Staff
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