Why Travel is the Perfect Holiday Self-Care
Have you ever returned from a trip feeling refreshed and renewed? Maybe you notice that you're viewing things in a different way or seeing situations and relationships with fresh eyes or new appreciation. Experiencing an unfamiliar environment encourages our brains to create new synapse connections and uproots us from our ingrained daily habits and patterns, which may not be the healthiest for our mental and physical health. Too much scrolling, too much TV and too much computer time tend to get the best of us in our daily routines and can lead to both internal and external numbness. Mindful travel and new adventure can organically shift our focus onto things that truly matter and bring us joy. Sure, travel can be hectic and stressful, but when done mindfully, it's also a really good way to reset and reconnect to who you are and what you love to do.
My daughter's favorite part of our trip was the Hollywood Sign Hike
My recent trip to California reminded me how much I love to hike. While Florida isn't exactly known for its hiking, there are plenty of trails and parks available here that I now make it a point to use more often. Having the opportunity to explore the new surroundings in California reconnected me to this part of myself that had forgotten how much I love to hike and be in nature.
Many of us will be traveling to visit family and friends for the holidays so this topic of adventure and travel coincides nicely with the natural rhythms of this time of year. Braving the crowds and delays can undoubtedly be a source of stress but instead of dreading upcoming travel, try to re-frame your outlook to view it as a wonderful way to reconnect with your loved ones and to yourself. It's a great opportunity to shift consciousness, break up the monotony of daily life, decrease screen time, create new neural pathways and come back to center.
If you don't have any travel planned, spending a day exploring your town or city or even the next town over can also provide a nice shift in perspective. I grew up in the Jupiter, Florida area and didn't tour our famed red Lighthouse until I was 34! Maybe there's an unexplored trail or lake or event that happens in your area that you haven't checked out yet - changing up your surroundings even for the day can be a nice way to shake up your routine and perspective and ignite some sparks of inspiration.
Do you have any travel planned this month? Where are you going? Do you have anxiety or excitement about it? What is something you've been meaning to check out in your area but haven't yet?
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Apart from you.
A Perpetual Separation.
The energy of chasing by nature keeps you in pursuit and the desired "thing" running away from you. This creates more resistance & frustration and actually widens the gap between you and what you want.
Andrea Pacini
Author