In a world where workdays bleed into nights and weekends feel shorter than ever, the idea of taking a proper break can seem like a luxury. But psychologists and health researchers say travel is not just a treat. It is a reset button for the mind and body.<\/p>\n
The World Travel and Tourism Council notes that STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD<\/p>\n Beyond the joy of a change of scenery, research shows that even a short trip away from routine can ease stress, lift mood, improve creativity and help people return to work with more energy.<\/p>\n Firstpost spoke to Psychiatrist and and Psychosexual Medicine Specialist, Dr. Aninda Sidhana who delineated on the relationship between travel and mental health.<\/p>\n Sharing her personal discoveries, Dr. Sidhana says, \u201cWorking from a vibrant caf\u00e9 in Lisbon instead of a cubicle improved my cognitive flexibility and emotional regulation. Standing beneath The science behind taking a break<\/p>\n In a audio podcast, Speaking of Psychology produced by the American Psychological Association, organisational psychologist Jessica de Bloom, who studies the impact of vacations on well-being, says the cost of not taking time off can be serious.<\/p>\n \u201cLarge long-term studies have shown that not taking annual vacations is linked to a higher risk of heart Research shows cortisol levels can drop within days of travel, which is why even short breaks feel deeply rejuvenating. Dr. Sidhana notes, \u201cStepping away from routine lowers stress levels and helps deconstruct the monotony that feeds chronic exhaustion.\u201d<\/p>\n Anticipation itself can reduce stress<\/p>\n Dr. Sidhana notes, \u201cNew environments improve cognitive flexibility and emotional regulation because the mind is actively responding instead of running on routine.\u201d<\/p>\n The benefits of travel begin even before the bags are packed. Sarah Pressman, a professor of psychological science at the University of California, Irvine, says anticipation plays a powerful role.<\/p>\n STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD<\/p>\n \u201cWe see benefits weeks before a Pressman\u2019s research tracks physical markers like heart rate and blood pressure. She finds that leisure time, including vacations, lowers stress hormones and supports cardiovascular health. These changes are not limited to international trips.<\/p>\n Breaking monotony and building perspective<\/p>\n Travel also works on the mind in varied ways. Being in a new place disrupts monotony and forces the brain to engage differently. Meeting new people, navigating unfamiliar streets and adapting to new cultures builds mental flexibility.<\/p>\n Exposure to different It can soften rigid thinking, reduce unconscious bias and make everyday frustrations feel smaller in perspective.<\/p>\n Many people feel better simply by being outdoors while travelling. Activities like walking, hiking or skiing combine physical movement with natural surroundings, which has a strong impact on mood.<\/p>\n Dr. Sidhana opines, \u201cNovel experiences build self-efficacy, which is the psychological muscle behind resilience.\u201d<\/p>\n Studies have found that people who consciously noticed their surroundings during walks felt more hopeful and upbeat than those who did not.<\/p>\n STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD<\/p>\n Travelling often encourages this kind of attention, whether it is watching waves roll in, walking through a forest trail or sitting quietly in the mountains.<\/p>\n Why travel helps at work too<\/p>\n Time away from work does not make people less productive. In fact, it often does the opposite. A Harvard Business Review study of more than 400 \u201cThere is no one-size-fits-all way to travel. Some people heal through adventure, others through stillness.\u201d<\/p>\n Travel writer and entrepreneur, Mikala Whitaker says, \u201ctraveling abroad can lower your need for closure, thus making you more open to ideas and preventing you from making decisions too early. \u201cTraveling can also prevent you from making discriminatory hiring decisions, as you\u2019ll be less likely to stereotype.\u201d<\/p>\n The role of joy, connection and giving back<\/p>\n Travel also creates opportunities for social bonding. Meals shared with loved ones, conversations with strangers and unhurried time together strengthen relationships. Research consistently shows that social connection protects mental and physical health.<\/p>\n There is also a quieter satisfaction that comes from knowing travel supports livelihoods. Tourism supports millions of jobs worldwide. Spending money locally, choosing small Nature-based travel helps regulate the nervous system, whether it\u2019s sitting quietly on a hill or spending time in open landscapes.<\/p>\n A study titled, \u201cTo travel is to live: embracing the emerging field of travel psychiatry,\u201d notes that mental health problems should receive greater recognition in travel medicine and that psychiatrists should collaborate more closely with travel medicine clinicians to ensure that their patients benefit from the opportunities afforded by international travel.<\/p>\n STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD<\/p>\n \u201cTravel is not helpful for everyone. For some people, the logistics of travel itself can increase anxiety. Unresolved grief or emotional weight can surface more strongly in unfamiliar places. Travel fails when it is used purely as an escape rather than an experience,\u201d says Dr. Sidhana.<\/p>\n Do you have to go far to feel better?<\/p>\n Experts agree that you do not need to travel across continents to see benefits. Staycations, short domestic trips and even weekends away can help, as long as people truly step away from work.<\/p>\n \u201cEven a short break to the countryside can restore motivation and emotional balance,\u201d advises Dr. Sidhana.<\/p>\n The takeaway<\/p>\n Vacations<\/a> do not solve every problem, and their glow may fade faster than we would like. But research is clear that regular time away from routine protects mental health, reduces stress and supports physical well-being.<\/p>\n \u201cRest is not a reward for finishing work,\u201d de Bloom says. \u201cIt is a basic requirement for staying healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n In a culture that often celebrates burnout, taking at least one meaningful break a year may be one of the simplest acts of self-care.<\/p>\n Home<\/a>Lifestyle<\/a>Why travelling at least once a year is good for mental health. Here\u2019s what experts sayEnd of Article<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In a world where workdays bleed into nights and weekends feel shorter than ever, the idea of taking…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":287325,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[137942,137943,103,61,60,410,137938,137947,411,137944,137941,137946,137937,137945,137940,137936,137939,137948],"class_list":{"0":"post-287324","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mental-health","8":"tag-benefits-of-taking-a-vacation","9":"tag-experts-on-travel-and-mental-health","10":"tag-health","11":"tag-ie","12":"tag-ireland","13":"tag-mental-health","14":"tag-mental-health-benefits-of-travelling","15":"tag-mental-wellness-tips","16":"tag-mentalhealth","17":"tag-psychologists-recommend-travel","18":"tag-travel-and-mental-well-being","19":"tag-travel-as-therapy","20":"tag-travel-good-for-mental-health","21":"tag-travel-improves-happiness","22":"tag-travel-reduces-stress","23":"tag-travelling-once-a-year-benefits","24":"tag-why-travelling-is-important-for-mental-health","25":"tag-work-life-balance-travel"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/287324","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=287324"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/287324\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/287325"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=287324"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=287324"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=287324"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\ntravel<\/a> plays an important role in maintaining mental well-being and, by extension, contributes to a happier and more fulfilling life.<\/p>\n
\nNorthern Lights<\/a> made me understand how beautiful can human mind diversities be.\u201d<\/p>\n
\ndisease<\/a> and even early death,\u201d she says. \u201cSo, skipping holidays is not a neutral choice. It carries health risks.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nvacation<\/a> actually starts,\u201d she says. \u201cAs people look forward to time off, stress bothers them less, and negative emotions have a smaller impact on the body.\u201d<\/p>\n
\ncultures<\/a> can also shape how people see the world. Learning how others live, eat, work and celebrate builds empathy.<\/p>\n
\ntravellers<\/a> found that 94 percent returned from a good trip with the same or higher energy levels.<\/p>\n
\nbusinesses<\/a> or even volunteering during a trip can create a sense of purpose.<\/p>\n