THIS week, we’ll look into one of the most common of human activities: travelling. Since time immemorial, human beings have been going from one destination to another whether by land, sea or air for various reasons, be it school, work, business or pleasure.
Travelling to distant locations has always been a popular activity during the holidays, whether within the country or beyond. And in today’s modern, dynamic, technologically-driven world, it is perceived as an important means of rest and recuperation – a method for us to break away from our daily routine.
In fact, various studies have shown that exposure to different environments, people and experiences improves our overall health by keeping us fit, boosting our cognitive skills and immune system, and lowering our stress levels and risk of fatal illnesses, among many other health benefits.
Travelling can also increase our creativity, especially through new, exciting experiences that push us out of our comfort zone, thereby forcing us to expand our minds, adapt to situations and eventually build our self-confidence.
Many who have gone far and wide would tell you that travelling makes them better individuals. For example, if you are travelling solo, you can work on your communication skills by talking to strangers, and perhaps creating new connections in the process.
Meeting different people with different cultures, lifestyles and beliefs allows you to broaden your life values and perspectives by becoming more empathetic, tolerant and considerate towards people. As American author Mark Twain wrote in his travel book ‘The Innocents Abroad’, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.”
So how can you make your travel worthwhile? Try going to new places and set out on making new experiences whenever you go somewhere for your holidays so that you won’t get bored with doing the same thing in the same place.
If you can’t afford to go abroad, go for places you have never been in your home country or even your home state. You’ll come to realise that there is more to them in terms of their people, culture and heritage than what has been portrayed in the media.
And when planning for your trip, keep your schedule flexible in order to fully enjoy yourself instead of stressing out on keeping track of time.
Regardless of location, though, ensure that you keep an open mind, observe to your heart’s content and live in the moment for travelling makes you healthier, happier and more perceptive. Ultimately, learning through travel experiences enriches your life and yourself as one of the over seven billion people on this planet.
This is a weekly column by SarawakYES! – an initiative driven by Faradale Media-M Sdn Bhd and supported
by Angkatan Zaman Mansang (Azam) Sarawak – to provide advice and stories on the topics of education and careers to support Sarawakians seeking to achieve their dreams. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.