You’ve worked hard and put in your years of work, and now it’s time to retire. However, although you deserve to relax, you shouldn’t sit around the house. Instead, you need to get out and travel. Think about the destinations on your bucket list and buy a ticket. Take this chance to see new sights and make memories. A trip will also give you a chance to improve your mental and physical health and experience personal growth.
Here are the reasons why travelling can be so rejuvenating post-retirement and some destinations that you simply shouldn’t miss.
Protect Your Health During Retirement
Although the hardest work of your life is done, you mustn’t sit idly by during your retirement. If you do, you could begin to lose the attributes that have made you so happy and mobile all these years.
You should continue to protect your mind every year by learning new hobbies and having new experiences. It’s how you can stay sharp and eliminate the social isolation that can lead to depression down the road. Being alone can also cause stress, which can wear away at your mental acuity. It’s natural to lose some clarity as you age, so do what you can to stay on top of things.
It’s also necessary to continue to make it a habit to eat right and exercise to fight off the physical ailments that can occur as you age. Failure to do so could result in back and neck pain, diabetes, and dementia. Simple exercises like light cardio and swimming are often all you need to stay in shape.
Why Travel Is Essential For Healing
It can be daunting to stay on top of your wellness year after year. Luckily, traveling and getting outdoors can be a significant part of solving most of those mental and physical challenges. Traveling is great for your mental health because getting around supports cognitive functioning since you’re always in new situations and taking on unique challenges you don’t face at home. You’ll also meet new people and potentially make friends. These acquaintances can show you even more experiences, and it just gets better from there.
Travel also gives you plenty of opportunities for exercise. You’ll get it as you walk from destination to destination or stroll through a museum. Your hotel likely has a pool, and you can swim laps to burn calories or de-stress in the hot tub.
To really kick your healing journey up a notch, head to a national park or another destination where you can be one with the environment. There are incredible benefits to being in nature, including keeping your body in top shape. Immersion in nature has been found to lower your blood pressure and reduce your stress. Being outside can also bring you to a natural place. It’s where you’ll feel at one with the earth and these physiological benefits can make you healthier and improve your immune system.
Travel Destinations For Personal Growth
Part of feeling better and improving your focus as you get older is working on your personal growth. When you’re practicing personal growth, you’re learning new skills, gaining wisdom, and obtaining the knowledge necessary to reach your full potential as you get older. While you can grow anywhere, there are many destinations you can visit that can really complement this facet of your life. Start with Greece. This wonderful country has a long history of philosophical thinking by greats such as Plato. So visiting and seeing the museums may open your mind and help you think differently.
You could also try a trip to Spain, where they have the El Camino de Santiago, which is a network of pilgrimages that lead to the shrine of the Apostille James. Many people have taken this walk for spiritual reasons. You might find some meaning as you follow in their footsteps. Another idea is to travel to Thailand. They’ve perfected many sacred meditation techniques, and you can use them to gain mindfulness and relieve stress.
Start Creating A Bucket List
While going on the trip will be great for your health, it can be just as beneficial to plan for trips of the future. You need motivation and something to look forward to so you’re encouraged to get through the day. Start creating a bucket list of incredible places that you simply must see during your lifetime. For instance, many people like to visit the incredible heritage sight at Machu Picchu. Other options include:
- Taking a cruise through Antarctica
- Discovering Egypt
- Going on a wildlife safari
Keep in mind that you don’t necessarily need to go to the ends of the earth to enjoy a healing journey, as there are many great destinations in the U.S. For instance, you can experience the grand scale of the world and think of where you fit into it as you explore Yellowstone in Montana. If you love golf, you could also head to Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, South Carolina, and hit some balls surrounded by amazing natural beauty. The relative silence and chirping birds can give you much time to think about your past and the future.
If you’ve always wanted to travel during your retirement, take advantage of your time and go somewhere awesome. You’ll get to see the world’s wonders and feel great mentally and physically along the way.
Photo Credit
Photo by Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash
Guest Author Bio
Luke Smith
Luke Smith is a writer and researcher turned blogger. He enjoys writing on a variety of topics but business, technology, and digital marketing topics are his favorite. When he isn’t writing you can find him traveling, hiking, or getting into the latest tech.
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