Ever find yourself simply exhausted from everything? Felt like you needed a break?

We can only handle so much stress from our day to day activities. The mere thought of waking up every morning to just drag yourself to report to work, to attend class, to see your superior or your professor which makes you want to tell yourself: “I quit, I need a vacation”.  You know you can’t quit but you can still get a vacation.

So you do exactly just that. You look up the next inexpensive DIY Travel tour on Facebook, you renew your expired passport for a trip across the country or maybe you check out any seat sale on Cebu Pacific, AirAsia, Skyjet, and Philippine Airlines. Better yet, maybe tour with some of the travel agencies like Traveloka PH. Whatever floats your boat, you can do anything just to get out of the daily routine which you live up with.

If you’re not a traveler, you can still relate from this blog post. If you’re already into travelling (good for you) then, you might find 5 reasons why you should travel and how I was changed by travelling. Hopefully by the end of this blog post I could make you pack your bags and give into the wanderlust.

1. Travel to learn

To discover who you are while you’re on the road, on a fine white sandy beach with the ocean waves crashing into the shore or whether you’re on a trek to a mountain top. No matter where or what you’re doing, the road to self-discovery is part of the whole trip which makes it very much worth it. When I started travelling I got to learn more about myself.

I not only learned about myself, I also got to learn about the language, way of living, food and culture of the people and the places I have been to.

So if you’re lost? Get the opportunity to drift away to an unknown and unfamiliar place. Come back to find yourself with new stories to tell, new skills and knowledge. A better you who is ready to face this world with a renewed spirit and a brighter outlook in life.

2. Travel to escape and experience the world

It is about time you disconnect yourself from social media, detox from it!

Appreciate the world around you. The natural beauty of nature is bound to reliably boost your physical well being, mentally reduce stress or alter any bad moods. You’ll bounce back from any negative energy you have been carrying around on your shoulders. Enjoy the moment as it is right now. Embrace the beauty that nature has to offer. Travelling has helped me in leaving all my worries behind, to unplug myself from the tech crazed world. It has helped me heal some wounds that have now left permanent scars. I did not allow myself to stay stuck on the same disposition where I felt hopeless, where everything seemed beyond repair with my troubles. Going to different place lets you move forward in all aspects. I never got the feeling that I was dealing with a problem that needed a solution right away. My mind was preoccupied, my heart was wary but I fed my soul with nature. It made things a lot lighter. Escape to heal on a natural high.

Because of the positive effects of nature I would suggest you get out of your comfort zone; seek out adventure that has yet to be explored from outside of the 4 corners or your room. Don’t just hit the like button of that beach you have wanted to go to several summers ago– travel to it and savor it.

3. Travel to meet people

I used to think I was an introvert but that changed when I started to travel.

I discovered that I had the capability to connect with people which improved my interpersonal skills and I tapped into some other skills I didn’t even know I had. Thus, these travel adventures have made me a better-rounded individual with an enriched perspective of the world. It’s like seeing everything for the first time from a different point-of-view. I’ve learned to appreciate the little things.

Every time I travel to a different place I try to socialize with the locals, meet new friends and exchange travel adventures with each other. This has allowed me to make meaningful relationships with those outside my circle. During my travels, I leave a part of me behind and take along with me a whole lot more than what I had bargained for. I understood and saw how people live the way they do- which is truly a rewarding experience. Because of it I became more adaptable, more confident, adventurous and have become better at making conversation.

4. Travel to make memories

Capture each moment and make it worthwhile, live in the present and stop living in the past. Inject life with the old cliche: “you only live once”.

As I travel I take a look back into where I have been, people I have met and places that have taken my breath away. 

5. Travel because you can 

It is never too late to start. Travel while you’re young. The time to travel is not when you retire. You’ll never know if you will be guaranteed with old age, it would be best to enjoy life’s experience right now!

Let’s admit it. I may not make it till my forties, fifties or sixties. If I do reach my golden years, I will absolutely have nothing to regret because I have lived my life to the fullest.

So, these are the reasons why I travel and how it has shaped me to become the person that I am now. What are you waiting for? Start your own adventure and you share your stories to the world.

Traveloka contest: www.traveloka.com/en-ph/how-travel-changed-my-life-blogger-contest