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How do you work to improve your health? Maybe you eat healthy, do yoga, or go to the gym. What if I told you that traveling has been proven to improve your health? It’s true! An abundant amount of research shows that traveling is highly beneficial to your physical, mental, and emotional health. Here are four ways traveling helps boost your health and well-being.

Helps Keeps You Fit.

Even though traveling to get somewhere often means hours of sitting, once you get to your destination, you are more likely to be actively enjoying your time there. Often times when we travel, we want to experience new things and see all there is to see. This may mean walking the streets of different cities, going on hikes, or trying an extreme sport! Even if you plan to relax on the beach all day, your muscles work twice as hard to walk in the sand, plus there’s an added bonus to your health if you plan on swimming in the water.

Reduces Stress

It’s no surprise that traveling for vacation is meant to be a stress-free time but research has shown that the effects of a good vacation can still be felt up to five weeks later! A study found that travelers felt well-rested, less anxious, and in a better mood after vacation. Taking time away from the stressors of life gives us what we need to be able to rejuvenate and come back ready for whatever life throws at us.

Traveling Increases Happiness.

Traveling is often an escape from the stresses of daily life, which is plenty of reason to elicit happiness. However, a study conducted at Cornell University shows that people experience an increase in happiness just from planning a trip! This proves that the benefits that come from traveling begin long before take-off.

Traveling Helps Strengthen Personal Relationships.

Traveling has many benefits, whether you do it alone or with others. Traveling with others, however, can help to strengthen your relationships with those people. Studies have shown that traveling with others helps increase your sense of connectedness with those people, enhancing the quality of the bonds you share.

 

So pack your bags and see where your health journey will take you!

 

Written by GUADS guest writer Lauren