10 Benefits of Exploring New Places (So Just Go!)

If you’ve ever wondered what you can do to change your life for the better, traveling should be the top thing on your list! You’ll meet interesting people, view lifestyles from different angles, and see sights that will take your breath away.

Imagine sailing the waters in the Caribbean, trekking Machu Picchu in Peru, or squishing sand between your toes in Fiji. Bonus—you’ll have lots of Instagram-worthy pics, and dozens of stories to regale your friends and family with!

Whether you travel abroad for a couple weeks or a couple years, you’ll be able to reap lots of positive effects of traveling. Who knows? You might even pick up some fresh skills that will give you a competitive edge in your future or current career field. Are you catching on to the benefits of international travel yet?

If you still need more #inspo on why travel is good for you, check out our round-up of the benefits of exploring new places that will make you want to book the next available flight—and get out into the world!

Why travel is good for you

1. Broadening your horizons

Broad horizons are the best for perfect sunsets!

Your normal day-to-day routine will only do so much for facing new challenges and experiencing new opportunities. Why not get out of your comfort zone and travel?! You may fumble over some foreign words or can’t hold chopsticks to save your life, but it’s about trying something new, right? You’ll be proud of yourself, and you’ll have something to laugh about later!

When you travel, you’ll also gain a deeper understanding of international issues and develop cultural sensitivities. Traveling will help you learn to see things from new perspectives, build your confidence, and develop a deeper empathy for others.

2. Improving your health

When you travel to new places, you may do a lot of walking around and climbing stairs to see sights firsthand. You may even want to try new physical activities like salsa dancing, white water rafting, or scuba diving! These physical activities can help cut down stress levels, improve heart health, and boost muscle growth.

Here’s a top reason why travel is good for you: Not only is it good for you physically, but travel can be good for you mentally. It can help to manage your anxiety and stress to explore new places and have fun new experiences. You’ll also meet new people, which will help you feel happier and increase levels of self-esteem and confidence.

3. Making new memories

One of the best benefits of international travel include making memories that will last a lifetime! From historical landmarks to aromatic foods to charismatic markets, your travels will tingle your senses from head to toe. You’ll remember the laughs you had with new friends as you try to stay upright on the subway, or the time when all of you got lost trying to find a local restaurant.

Everything won’t always go as planned, but that’s part of the fun. You’ll have some memorable experiences along the way! All the pictures you’ll take that’ll capture those moments will make for scrapbooks that you’ll cherish for years to come.

4. Building your resume

Who says you can’t have a great time AND do a little good for the world?

One of the best ways to boost your hiring potential and make your resume look impressive to future employers is by traveling abroad. More specifically, you could study, teach, work, intern, or volunteer abroad to improve your skills. And we mean valuable skills, like adaptability, time management, and problem solving!

You’ll also fuel your creative thinking skills when you expose yourself to new challenges that involve thinking outside of the box. You’ll also improve your intercultural communication skills when you meet new people from other countries and work with them on projects. Hey, you’ll have something to talk about in job interviews too!

READ MORE: What Skills Do You Gain from Studying Abroad?

5. Expanding your social circles

Ready to meet your new BFF? Maybe your soulmate? Okay, no promises there, but the benefits of international travel include meeting new friends for life! The conversations you have with both locals and other expats about the joys and pains of your experiences abroad will make for strong bonds.

Also, who knows if a new contact could lead to a new job or business venture? You never know if opportunities abroad will lead you to a connection that could change your life!

6. Making a difference

“Set your heart on doing good. Do it over and over again, and you will be filled with joy.” —Buddha

Whether you’re interested in helping the environment, animals, or people in need, you’ll find that many countries are in need of volunteers in one way or another. You could teach English to orphans, provide medical assistance to wounded elephants, or plant trees on affected coastlines.

Volunteering is also a great way to immerse yourself in your host country and learn more about the culture. You’ll not only be making a difference in the lives of others, but you’ll also be improving your skill set for future opportunities.

7. Practicing a new language

There will be tons of opportunities to practice or gain language skills.

Remember the good ‘ol days of trying to learn a language in school with lots of reading and writing but not enough speaking and listening? Here’s another one of the top pros of traveling: You can practice new language skills at restaurants, bus stops, grocery stores, theaters, events, and more with native speakers.

You’ll find that many places also host language exchange clubs. Taking classes can help with getting a strong foundation, but you’ll learn even more with real world experiences. Knowing another language will open new doors for cultural exchanges and career opportunities. Plus, you’ll be able to participate in a whole new world of music, books, movies, memes, and more!

8. Trying out new activities

You’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of exploring new places when you can check off new activities on your bucket list! Skydive in New Zealand, zipline above cloud forests in Costa Rica, or go caving in the depths of Iceland.

If you’ve ever wanted to challenge yourself with adventurous activities, you’ll find lots of opportunities in other countries. You could even swim with sharks in South Africa, paraglide in Colombia, or go sea canoeing in Thailand.

What about participating in activities you’ve never heard of? Try underwater scooter riding in Mauritius, sky swinging in Australia, or spending a night in an ice hotel in Sweden!

READ MORE: 9 Adventurous Destinations for Spelunking & Caving

9. Sampling new dishes

Food is always one of the top benefits of traveling abroad! Imagine tasting fresh paella in Spain, slurping ramen in Japan, or savoring tikka masala in India! From smoked salmon in Scotland to shawarma in the United Arab Emirates to Adobo in the Philippines, your palate will explode with a variety of flavors wherever you go.

Got a bit of a sweet tooth? Chow down on churros in Mexico, get a pick-me-up with tiramisu in Italy, and enjoy gooey sponge cakes in South Africa. Every country will expose you to new spices and seasonings that can give you new ideas for dishes you can create back home. When traveling the world, we’re all foodies at heart.

10. Feeling more grateful for home

There’s no shame in feeling a little relief when you’re headed home!

You may love the food in France, the pyramids in Egypt, and the people in Portugal. You may also, however, miss your favorite hometown burger, the bookstore down the block, and free clean water at restaurants.

In the end, you’ll learn to be grateful for all the little things you took for granted. All the day-to-day problems you faced back home won’t seem so bad anymore. You’ll also cherish your friendships and family more at home because absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?

Traveling is a wonderful experience when you fully commit yourself to enjoying every moment, but there’s also something soul-nourishing about returning home to the familiar after a long time away.

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Who could argue with the positive effects of traveling?

The benefits of traveling abroad are tenfold, from opening your eyes to creating meaningful relationships to developing new skills. The pros of traveling include tasting new foods, trying new activities, and seeing new sights. Maybe you’ll learn how to ask for directions in Spanish or learn how to ride a moped.

Why not learn to tango in Argentina, sip bubble tea in Thailand, or snap pics of the Taj Mahal? You’ll feel like a true adventurer when you visit the Amazon, trek the Great Wall, or dive into the Great Barrier Reef!

Your body and mind will thank you for all the positive effects traveling had on your health. You’ll also have lots of good stories from your travels that will make for amazing conversations with everybody you meet.

There’s no doubt about it—you’ll come home feeling a sense of accomplishment knowing that you faced challenges and overcame obstacles along the way and made lasting memories!

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