The Surprising Mental Health Benefits of Travel for Aging Adults - Crossroads Health

Mental health benefits of travel for adults

Travel can broaden your horizons and expose you to new ways of thinking. Leaving your town or city for a few weeks can help you hit the reset button and refresh your perspective on life, too.

Vacationing is a particularly powerful tonic for aging adults. Today, 20% of older adults experience some form of mental health concern like anxiety, depression, or cognitive decline. Seeing the world at large can help you break out of unhealthy habits and help you make lifestyle changes that nurture your physical and mental health.

Traveling can reduce your overall stress and help you manage the symptoms of mood disorders, too. This is key, as depression is the most common mental health condition reported among older adults today.

Benefits of Travel

Travel is often overlooked when you’re considering lifestyle changes that can boost your mental health and wellbeing. However, recent research published in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications shows that regular travel and tourism can contribute to enhanced subjective well-being amongst older adults.

This research is backed up by data collected by Exodus Travels. Researchers found that travel can help you build new relationships and find friends that last a lifetime. This is key if you’re struggling to adapt to life after work and want to find a support group with similar interests to your own. 77% of Americans say that travel has helped them make lifelong friends while 25% say they met a best friend while on the road.

Taking a trip with your friends and family can be rewarding, too. 71% of Americans say that traveling with loved ones strengthens their bond as you’ll have plenty of time to talk and reflect while on the trip together. This can be life-changing if you’re used to bustling about at break-neck speed during your day-to-day life.

Solo travel can also be empowering. Hitting the road alone seems scary at first, but 49% of surveyed respondents say they’ve been on a life-changing solo trip at some point in their lives. This is ideal if you’re done with your day-to-day living and want to make a fresh start. Solo travel gives you room to reinvent yourself and find new people who can renew your sense of purpose.

Carefree Travel

Traveling in your senior years can be empowering and deeply fulfilling. However, if you want to make the most of your time on the road, you’ll need to prepare well in advance to protect your physical and mental health. Start the planning process early to maximize your chances of enjoying carefree travel as you age and focus your efforts on:

• Research: Destinations that you want to revisit may have changed since your last trip. Be sure to research the destination well in advance to avoid tourist hotspots and travel advisories.
• Medical Help: Let your doctor know that you’re planning to travel so they can get you ready for the trip. This is particularly important if you’re on regular medication and need to take a bumper dose with you for the duration of your trip.
• Comfort: Travel can be distressing and uncomfortable. Make the process that much smoother by packing clothes and pillows that bring you physical and emotional comfort.
• Jet Lag: You don’t want to spend your whole trip catching up on sleep. Instead, start to shift your sleep schedule in the days and weeks leading up to your trip to make the process that much easier.
• Booking a Guide: Avoid travel scams by speaking to a reputable travel agent who understands your needs. This will ensure you get a good deal on hotels and will help you plan your entire itinerary.

Proper planning can alleviate your stress and help you get more from your travels. Working with your doctor will ensure that you’re always up to date with medication. If you live with a condition like anxiety, consider speaking to a therapist who can give you coping mechanisms that help you manage travel stressors and overcome issues like canceled flights or language barriers.

Road Trips

The idea of flying to Paris or Milan for a break always sounds like a lot of fun. However, international travel involves long hours on a plane and lengthy queues in customs. If it’s been a while since you took a trip, consider starting closer to home with a road trip.

Road trips tend to take you off the beaten path and out into the natural world, too. This can significantly boost your mental health, as research shows that just 20 minutes of contact with nature can reduce stress and boost your overall well-being. 

Just be sure to know your limits when road-tripping. You may have been able to drive all day during your younger years but should split up long journeys with regular overnight breaks when on the road. This can protect you from fatigue and ensure that you’re able to appreciate the sights and scenery while driving.

You should take precautions to avoid weather-related accidents on the road, too. Poor weather conditions, like fog, sleet, and snow reduce your car’s traction, limit your visibility, and can cause a sudden loss of control. Minimize the risk of an accident by slowing down and researching your route thoroughly. You don’t want to get caught in a snowstorm or strong winds when passing through a mountain range and should be prepared to pull over in the event of an emergency. 

Conclusion

Taking time to visit new destinations as an aging adult can help you destress and reinvent yourself. This can be deeply empowering if you’ve recently retired after a stressful career and need to protect your mental health. Getting away from everyday life can help you make discoveries about yourself and the world around you, too. Just be sure to speak to your doctor or therapist before leaving to ensure you get all the help and support you need.