How Traveling is Good for the Depressed – Part I
A research named KLoSA study was conducted via face-to-face interview in which about 10,000 adults aged 45 and older living across the 15 districts of the municipal cities and provinces that comprise South Korea were surveyed.
Results of the study revealed that participants who had not traveled for one year had a 71% higher risk of suffering from depression in the following year than did those who had travelled.
Conclusions drawn from the study indicate that the risk of depression increases for people who do not travel, and a reciprocal relationship exists between travel and depression.
That said, what does traveling actually do to one’s mind and body.
People living with depression have continuously low moods and feelings of helplessness or sadness that discourage them from engaging in pleasant activities. Going to new places and getting to behold new sights help one in improving their mental well-being by experiencing disparate moments, watching different people and enjoying newer cultures, thus breaking the dull, monotonous routine.
According to a recent study conducted by Washington State University, individuals who travel several times a year, even if it’s just for 75 miles away from their home, are 7% happier than those who don’t travel.
When one goes about meeting new people, interacting with them, encountering new cultures and having new experiences, they may be pushed to reassess the meaning of their lives. As a traveler acquires knowledge and insights from different environments and individuals, they will see that all of this contributes to their personal growth, making them more versatile and enriched as a person. In essence, traveling gives the much-required boost to a depressed person’s confidence.
“Traveling for pleasure can contribute to subjective well-being because people have more opportunities to detach from their work environment, to experience new things, and to control what they want to do during vacations,” says Paul Simeone, Ph.D., Vice President and Medical Director of Behavioral Health with Lee Health.
“There’s ample research to support that positive travel experiences can make a person healthier, can strengthen their relationships, and benefits their overall wellness.”
Let us break it down and discuss how traveling can hugely benefit an individual who isn’t happy in his life.
- Travel Expands Horizons
Travelling broadens one’s perspective and introduces them to new outlooks. They observe how individuals from various lands strive to maintain happiness and composure amidst their struggles. Witnessing even the less fortunate cherishing life can make it difficult to remain despondent.
- Travel makes one Sleep Better
“Travel can help your sleep health if you’ve not been sleeping well,” says Simeone. “One in three American adults don’t get enough sleep. Poor sleep hygiene has been linked to chronic conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and depression. Getting away from your routine at home, even for a weekend, can help reset your sleep pattern by disrupting any habits that negatively affect your sleep quality.”
“Even a getaway just for a weekend where you’re in a different environment may help you relax enough to be able to fall asleep, stay asleep and feel rested upon waking,” Simeone says.
- Happiness is Infectious
Numerous destinations around the globe boast cheerful individuals with radiant smiles. For instance, the Bhutanese regularly greet each other with warm smiles and exude positivity and contentment. Even without actively seeking it, travelers can easily catch the contagious happiness and joy of those around them, leading them to naturally feel happier in the company of cheerful people.
- Travel Reduces Job Stress
If one feels burnt out due to excessive work at job then traveling may give them a break and de-stress them.
Paul Theroux, the fine travel writer, puts it best: ‘What draws me into a trip is a leap into the dark. You set out from home, and in the classic travel book, you go to an unknown place. You discover a different world, and you discover yourself.’ This is what we all need, so let’s get on the road, any road!”
5. Traveling Improves Productivity & Spurs Creativity
Traveling offers opportunities to meet new people, engage in novel experiences, acquire new languages, savor new cuisines, forge new friendships, and most importantly, eagerly anticipate these encounters. It invigorates the mind with fresh ideas, momentarily freeing one from their current problems and allowing them to fully embrace the present moment.
As the Harvard Business Review study shows: traveling could improve productivity, spur creativity, and lessen stress.
Continue reading the next part of this article here – Travel and depression