The Many Reasons I Love To Travel Alone And You Should Too

Don’t get me wrong, traveling with my wonderful husband and/or 4 kids is always a delight for me.  But, there is much to be said of the benefits of traveling alone.  Whether it be a business trip or chosen vacation, traveling solo has many rewards.

There are many well respected leaders who have enjoyed traveling alone to find inspiration including Michael Hyatt, Bill Gate, J.K. Rowling, and J.R.R. Tolkien.

Often I find myself traveling alone and have changed these times into opportunities of personal growth and de-stress from the apprehension I felt in the past.  I meet many people who do not like traveling alone and view these trips with fear, apprehension, and in return exhausted.  Today we are going to talk about the perks of traveling alone and why you should book your ticket today.

4 Benefits Of Traveling Alone

1. Quiet and healthy boredom

Sometimes uncomfortable but necessary for emotional intelligence. We’ve read enough these days to know that we all need to find more quiet and boredom to allow our minds to be healthy.  I choose to believe and embrace this time even when I don’t like it.  It’s like taking on a challenge that I can be confident will benefit me for the future. Interestingly, some of my best writing, ideas for work, and plans for my family will pop during these times.

2. Sleep

The advantages to hotel rooms is that you control the air temperature, the place with a bed that brings you comfort, and a bath to rest weary bodies. Being alone can increase this rest.  If sleep while traveling is a problem for you, you are not alone.  I recommend picking up this book:

Some main points Arianna Huffington makes that can help the travel are:

“We are in the midst of a sleep deprivation culture and crisis.” Realizing this fact in itself can help in that we need more sleep and the idea that this is lazy needs to change. “Yet the myth persists that we can do our jobs just as well on four or five hours of sleep as we can on seven or eight,” she stresses, calling it a modern delusion.  Traveling alone can give one flexibility in their schedule.  Making plans later in the morning or cutting evening events short allows much needed rest.

Embrace middle of the night awakenings as your mind desires quiet conversation with God, yourself, or silence that you need.  Don’t get angry when you wake at night but calmly sit quietly focusing on the positives of your day.  We’ve busied ourselves so much with devices that our brains are begging for the quiet awake time we need.

Why does the Huffington Post have nap rooms around their office?  Arianna explains what a 30 minute nap after lunch can do for emotional intelligence and creativity.  At times, an hour or 2 is needed for the deep sleep our bodies crave.  Napping increases productivity. Traveling gives opportunity for naps including airplane rides and in between meetings in hotel rooms.  Basically, find your love with sleep.  Find routines that you enjoy.  Take away the dread by embracing it and make it a priority when you travel.

3, Me.

We often joke about “me time!” But isn’t it true? Taking time to travel and sightsee alone means that you get to pick the activities or non activities of the day.  I find this is hard for many travelers as sometimes the spouse or a friend is the one who chooses the restaurant or activity for the day.  Be intentional so that the trip revives you mentally.  There are several apps that can take the work out of your hands including Yelp, Urbanspoon, and Google will give options near you.

4. Hitting the Restart Button!

There are times in our life when we need a restart.  Times of depression, looking for change but don’t know how, in between jobs, grief, or breaks in relationships are common reasons why people choose to travel solo. To give personal reflection and spiritual renewal.  If you are considering hitting the beach on your own, check out these blogs as they will help you choose the best locations, safest places, and preparation.

Travel Alone-Where To Go and How

10 Common Fears That Stop You From Traveling Solo

The Ultimate Guide To Solo Female Travel

Caution on traveling solo.

Caution should be considered spiritually, emotionally, and mentally.  Let’s mention the elephant in the room. Many good marriages ruined and other mistakes happen during times of solo travel and there are reasons for this such as loneliness and obscurity that makes one vulnerable.  I protect myself by focusing my out time during the day and wrapping things up before the nightlife begins.  I choose to stay in parts of a city that are not known for an active nightlife.

One question I keep in mind every time I travel alone is “What are my weaknesses?”  I know that I am not that organized and I tend to rush.  I have to be extra careful to keep track of money, passports, credit cards, and other valuables right next to my body and not in my hand.  This has saved me many times.  Please don’t not travel out of fear.  Is it risky? Yes, but so are the best things in life!

Prepare Yourself For The Mental Break.

Do you have a trip coming up and want it to be impactful on you physically, spiritually, mentally?  2 rules: keep it simple and be flexible.

Here are the things you will find in my bag: Uplifting Book, music, and Bible. Keeping it simple.

Change in your mindset is everything!  Your next business trip may be the 20th one you’ve had this year and you may be dreading it.  My advice to you is to OWN IT!  Take charge of your time, slow things down so the trip is not a rush, plan several things that you will look forward to.  Enjoy, rest, discover the world, discover yourself!

Traveling soon?  Check the best prices for hotels here: Price Check

Passing on amazing deals to you for Yves Rocher! Love, Marc and Ann: