๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐ณ๐๐น ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐น
Six benefits for this way of travelling
When I started med school, I was aware that my previous year had been a little different from my contemporariesโ. The day before Freshersโ week, I had returned from six months travelling โon a shoestringโ around South America, after working in a university lab. I was the only undergrad out of 26 who had taken a gap year between school & university.
Since then, I have continued travelling, and progressively tried to integrate mindfulness into my travel. I have just returned from travelling through Armenia and Georgia.
As healthcare workers, many of us work long hours and face high stress levels. Iโve found that this is essential to maintaining physical, emotional, and mental health:
1. Reduced Stress: Mindful travel allows us to disconnect from the demands of work and daily life, providing an opportunity to relax and destress. Being present in the moment, enjoying new experiences and connecting with nature can all help reduce stress levels and provide a renewed sense of energy & focus.
2. Improved mental health: Travel can provide a break from routine and give a chance to reflect on our life, goals, and priorities. When we travel with intention and focus on being fully present in the moment, we enhance our ability to pay attention and appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of our surroundings. This can lead to a greater sense of gratitude and a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world we live in. It can also lead to a new perspective on ourselves and the world, enhancing overall well-being and allowing us to lead more fulfilling lives
3. Professional development: For healthcare workers, travel can provide the chance to observe healthcare systems and practices in other countries, learn from colleagues in other regions, and bring back new insights to our own work.
4. Increased creativity: Being exposed to new cultures, languages, and ways of thinking gets us out of our comfort zones, and inspires new ideas/perspectives. This can lead to increased confidence, creativity, and problem-solving skills that can benefit us in both personal & professional lives.
5. Enhanced relationships: Travel with others, whether family, friends, or colleagues, can also strengthen relationships. Sharing experiences, trying new things together, creating memories all bring people closer together.
6. Compassion: By immersing ourselves in new & unfamiliar environments, we gain a greater appreciation for diversity and a better understanding of the interconnectedness of our world. This can also help to foster empathy and compassion, as we gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and triumphs that people from different backgrounds face.
