This is your brain on travel: Scientific evidence that travel has actual health benefits.

I came across an article recently discussing how tangible items that we buy lose value the longer that we have them. We adapt to items that we see everyday even if, at one point, we could think of nothing else but having it as our very own.

“But while the happiness from material purchases diminishes over time, experiences become an ingrained part of our identity.”

This quote has stuck with me. Identity, a sense of self and confidence is created when you have a great deal of knowledge about a specific subject. A doctor feels very confident talking about medicine because it is something that he/she has studied and discusses on a daily basis. The same goes for people who travel, except instead of medicine, you become an expert on the world. We are a combination of our experiences, where travelling enhances self-confidence by knowing different cultures and places.

Is it any wonder that when you hear of a friend’s travel plans or see their photos posted on Facebook, you are immediately transported back to your own adventures? Travel might include a weekend visit to a cottage or six months travelling by motorcycle through Southeast Asia.

When taking the time to travel, you are making the choice to schedule leisure time for yourself. Your senses are heightened at the new experiences you are having every day. There can always be obstacles that occur on trips which doesn’t have to be a bad thing. When obstacles are put in our way, our brains work more efficiently as we focus on creative and out-of-the-box solutions.

Up until this point, I have mainly been discussing the benefits of leisurely travel. However, health benefits still apply when travelling for work. Simply getting out of the office setting can help to put things into perspective. When you travel with your team you are sharing new experiences that will bind you, resulting in improved communication and comradery.

From my own travel experiences, my favourite activity is listening to the experiences of others, constantly learning from the people I meet. Consider me the Travel Doctor as I prescribe you all with a dose of travel therapy!