Who am I kidding?! There are no cons of traveling! I honestly can’t think of any negatives with exploring new places. I can, however, think of like a million pros of traveling, so I’d rather talk about those. Relationships are strengthened, communication skills are enhanced, stress levels improve, and intelligence is enhanced when you make time for vacations/travel. As a result, many studies show an improvement in overall quality of life and happiness.

At least once a year, I utilize vacation time to travel with my family as well as my friends. New experiences with my parents has allowed us to grow closer and truly get to know each other better. For the most part, we explore Southern California as they live in New Mexico, but we make it a point to visit new places every year when they visit. This annual tradition strengthens our bond and encourages frequent communication while anticipating our next adventure. I plan to keep this ritual alive if/when I have a family of my own!

I’ve yet to experience anything horrific while traveling with my friends. I take more risks with them, and traveling abroad completely push us out of our comfort zones. You learn to rely on one another’s strong suits while navigating foreign places, which improves problem solving skills and calms that OCD side of yourself, haha. Not being alone on a trip also encourages healthy communication that continues with your travel partners for years to come. Before our trips are over, we’re already talking about the next one, so we always have something new and exciting to look forward to.

Not only is stress less of an issue while on vacation, you’re also pleasant while awaiting your trip. And it is not uncommon to return with a little pep in your step for a few weeks. Leaving daily responsibilities of work and home life behind allow you to wake up with a fresh mind and less anxiety. This helps you fully decompress and leave your stress behind. Another pro to traveling is your brain power is increased by exploring new places with differing cultures and languages. Your mind is stimulated by everything from street signs to conversations surrounding you. Learning basic phrases and greetings in other languages displays willingness to adapt to other cultures, which is always appreciated by the locals on your travels. I’m not a native Spanish speaker, but I’ve surely learned how to navigate around Spanish speaking countries and can order the heck out of a good meal en español, haha!

If you don’t have any trips scheduled yet, book that vacation you’ve been putting off. You can thank me later 😉

xoxo