I just spent 8 days in Massachusetts, USA for work.

I've never traveled like this before.

Now that I'm back home, I thought I'd share some insights from my trip on

BENEFITS OF TRAVELING (BY YOURSELF)

[THREAD TIME]

Leading up to this trip, I was

- excited to travel to new places
- getting cabin fever working from home
- fantasizing about flights, hotels, and great food abroad

These were all things I loved about traveling before

But this trip left me with more:

[Routine Shock]

We LOVE talking about routines (and rightfully so). They help us get things done without expending mental effort.

Traveling breaks us of our routines and puts them to the test.

Spoiler - I definitely broke off from my routine.

But that shouldn't discourage you!

A break from routine can

- give you new perspective
- "trim the fat" - no excess tasks
- affirm and cherish the routines you DO have

No one failed because they fell off the path

Only when they didn't get back on it.

[Brain Rewired for Newness]

This was a new one for me.

Being immersed in a new place for a substantial length of time has a lasting effect on your mentality.

Seeing TONS of new things every day REWIRES YOUR BRAIN.

How? Let me show you

Everything is still "new", even when you fly back.

But it'll snap back to "normal" when you get home, right?

WRONG

I'm STILL seeing things as new and interesting, even if I've seen them daily for the last 12 months!

My car
My desk
My room
My street

All interesting!

When people say that travel makes you see things in a new light,

They are NOT over-exaggerating.

Going to be riding this wave of "newness" hard.

[Mind Sharpened]

Being in a new place breaks you of routine, yes.

And that means you're not on autopilot anymore.

Be ready for this - it'll wear you out the first few days!

But it gets better...

Not being on autopilot with your routines creates a GREAT opportunity to operate in a sharpened mental state.

- Nothing is taken at face-value
- Everything is investigated
- Anything is possible

This mental state is perfect for creativity and innovation.

[Gratitude for Your Daily Life]

Being away from home gives you a newfound appreciation for home.

Home can seem

- simple
- boring
- predictable

Too much of this can have you resenting a stable home life.

Traveling will change that QUICK

Even relaxing days at your destination can still be exhausting (from the "newness" mentioned above)

When you come home, you're greeted by the things you couldn't wait to get away from.

- your living room
- your kitchen
- your bed

But now, you're grateful you always have them

[Independence Test]

Traveling alone is an especially great way to test (or remind you of) your independence.

How self-sufficient are you, really?

Many of us never truly get the chance to exercise full independence. You can:

- travel alone
- dine alone
- live alone

and get the chance to be independent.

However, dining is very short-term, and living alone is a lifestyle.

Traveling alone is a great middle ground.

Traveling alone will test your

- problem-solving
- critical thinking
- decision-making
- relationship-building
- navigation
- mental fortitude

Among a ton of other things - any I missed?

[Escapist or Adventurous?]

Last bit I'll touch on - traveling will give you a chance to honestly answer the following question:

Do I really like traveling, or am I just unhappy with my life at home?

Am I wanting to explore?

Or do I just want to escape?

This is an incredibly-important question to answer!

Traveling should not be a substitute for a happy home life.

In fact, it should be a supplement to one.

Maybe even a reward for one.

Which would you rather have?

"My life is terrible at home. Maybe if I travel to the cool places I see on Instagram, I can GET AWAY for a while."

"My life is wonderful at home! I want to explore more of this wonderful world, knowing that when I'm ready, I can HAPPILY come home."

So, to recap

Traveling is a GREAT way to

- shock your routine
- rewire your brain for "newness"
- sharpen your mind
- find gratitude for your home life
- test your independence
- test for escapism vs. adventurous spirit

Safe travels, all!!!