Travel: Making Memories that Last
Are you feeling stuck? Do you feel like life is moving faster than you can process? Consider a change of scenery! Traveling has many benefits, such as rest, reset, and recovery.
Travel improves physical, cognitive, and emotional health. Visiting different environments strengthens the immune system by building antibodies. Exploring diverse cultures enhances creativity, personal growth, cognitive flexibility, and the ability to connect concepts that appear unrelated to one another. Stanford University explains, “It has been shown to reduce stress and improve mood, and this effect can linger for weeks after the trip has ended. It takes you out of your daily routine and into new surroundings, which can reset your body and mind. Planning a trip, even one not taken, has been shown to increase happiness.”(para. 4) Exploring a new place promotes an open mind.
Whether a full vacation or weekend getaway, adventuring somewhere new can reset the internal sleep clock. Paul Simeone, Ph.D., Medical Director of Behavioral Health with Lee Health, writes, “One in three American adults doesn’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.”(para. 6) Being in a new environment can promote new and healthier habits.
Excursions disrupt the mundane routine and reduce job burnout. It can also improve mood as well as lower the risk of depression. Planning and anticipation of a trip can be just as exciting as the vacation itself. The National Library of Medicine describes, “Women who vacation at least twice a year are less likely to suffer from depression and chronic stress than women who vacation less than once every two years.” Taking time away from work or other responsibilities to recover can allow someone to come back with more concentration.
Do you need to rest, reset, or recover? The Camp Echoing Hills travel program offers travel opportunities for individuals aged 18 and older with developmental or intellectual disabilities. Individuals experience a reset from their routines, and caregivers can rest and recover. Similar to camp, individuals participating in the program make memories that last a lifetime.
