As of May 11th, people arriving in the US no longer have to show proof of their Covid vaccination, with this coinciding with the curtailing of the coronavirus public health emergency stateside.
This is great news for all travelers regardless of their reasons for visiting the US, while those venturing out of North America can also enjoy a similarly relaxed environment in regions across the globe.
It has also never been easier to book overseas trips in and out of the US either, with the edreams booking portal connecting you with cheap flights and unique travel experiences all over the world. It should also be noted that travel is proven to have a positive impact on your mental wellbeing in many instances, while people are looking to resume their overseas adventures in earnest now that Covid is endemic in Western societies.
But how exactly does travel enhance your mental wellbeing, and is this something that can actively lower the impact of anxiety and depression?
Travel Makes You Happy – At Least That’s What the Numbers Say
Of course, it’s a sweeping and inaccurate generalization to suggest that travel makes you happy, but there are plenty of figures which suggest that this assertion is more truthful than not.
For example, a comprehensive study published in the Tourism Analysis journal at the beginning of 2021 (at the height of the coronavirus restrictions) found that people who traveled regularly were approximately 7% happier than those who did so rarely or not at all.
‘Regular travel’ was defined as taking trips at least 75 miles from home on more than one occasion each year, which suggests that both staycations and international trips can contribute to an enhanced mental wellbeing and state of mind.
Previously, other studies and research projects had also identified a quantifiable link between travel and happiness. Although many of these included a relatively small number of respondents, they also found that regular trips to different destinations solicited more positive emotions in people when compared to those who were unable or unwilling to travel regularly.
In one particular study of 132 respondents who traveled over a period of several months, almost half underwent MRI scans towards the end of the experiment. Interestingly, this revealed a strong correlation between trips to exotic and diverse international locations and increased activity levels in the hippocampus and the striatum.
These two components of the brain are known to process novelty and reward, so having the ability to travel often and visit different locations clearly contributes to a more positive psyche.
What About Tackling Depression? Can Travel Really Help?
Of course, the notion of happiness is relatively vague and means something different to each one of us, so it can be difficult to quantify the precise impact of travel even when conducting controlled and insightful studies.
A much more precise question is whether travel can actively tackle mental ailments such as depression, especially as some people are known to suffer from travel anxiety? Well, there’s also research to suggest that this is the case, with one detailed study published in the Wisconsin Medical Journal (which featured an impressive 1,500 female respondents) showing that those who took more frequent and regular vacations reported significantly lower levels of stress and depression.
More recent studies have backed up these findings. In a January 2019 Scandinavian study, for example, it was found that offering people just 10 additional days of paid leave decreased the likelihood of depression by an impressive 29% in female respondents aged 45 to 52.
Strangely, the study found no such correlation in the male respondents who took part, despite the survey featuring a staggering 3,380 working people across several Scandinavian countries.
This is a far more telling insight, and while the apparent and marked differences between men and women are stark, it seems undeniable that travel can have a positive impact on your wellbeing over time.
The Bottom Line
Even in layman terms, it stands to reason that travel should boost your mental wellbeing and overall state of mind. After all, the mere act of traveling can break the monotony of everyday life, while helping you to escape corporeal and mental ruts that you weren’t even aware you were in.
Another key takeaway here is that simply booking and planning a holiday is energizing, as this gives you something tangible to look forward to and may improve your productivity, creativity and overall mindset prior to traveling.
Remember, you don’t even have to travel too far to improve your wellbeing, while the advent of cheap flights and diverse types of accommodation also make even ambitious travel plans more accessible than ever before!
