Four lessons solo travel teaches you

Posted on May 26, 2019 by Ghoomophiro

In many ways, organizing your travels has never been easier. In the US for example, 48% of smartphone users in the US would be happy to research and book their entire holiday straight from their device. Nothing could be easier! But imagine finding an irresistible bargain to far-off climes, but no one’s available to go with you. Would you go alone?

Many people feel instantly put off by the idea of traveling solo. The notion of negotiating stressful airports and hotel transfers all alone may feel like anything but fun. But many have discovered that traveling alone turned out to be the perfect tonic for the soul and that a solo excursion worked wonders for their character. Here are just four fantastic things traveling by yourself may do for you.

1. Boost your confidence

Traveling solo boosts confidence. Heading off alone shows that you don’t have to depend on others for your own happiness. Encountering situations and dealing with them all by yourself works wonders for your self-confidence and you will begin to discover latent abilities within yourself.

It’s not about becoming an isolationist or a hermit, of course, but it is about tapping into your own inner powers of independence. As an added bonus, these new-found powers may draw more like-minded people into your life.

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2. Find out who you are

You can more easily rediscover who you are deep down when you travel independently. Usually, in the company of our friends and acquaintances, we tend to follow expected patterns of behavior – and we may have been doing this for so long we don’t even realize we’re doing it.

Traveling alone in unfamiliar surroundings surrounded by unfamiliar people somehow lifts the burden of having to conform to expectations. You may realize while on your solo sojourn that you have been acting a part for most of the time. Perhaps you’ve been playing the extrovert so long you don’t notice how exhausted it makes you feel because you’re really an introvert, for example.

Traveling alone puts you back in touch with who you are at your core, giving you the freedom to explore different aspects of your personality without worrying what others may think of you.

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3. Get creative

Traveling on your own gives you the perfect opportunity to tap into your creative powers. Often, creative thinkers find their most inspiring ideas in moments of solitude or when they’re least expecting it.

Remember that creativity isn’t the sole preserve of writers and artists. We all need to think creatively; whether it’s to come up with solutions to personal problems or to work out what we want to do with our lives. Traveling alone offers the perfect opportunity to think beyond the obvious. It even makes us into a more savvy traveler as we recognize we are responsible for our own spending and other actions. Solo travel is a great education in the art of living.

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4. See people in a different light

Very often you will see people in a different light when you travel alone. Traveling solo makes you that little bit more vulnerable, which isn’t always a bad thing. Being that little bit more vulnerable often brings out the best in people around you and will often show you just how helpful people can be when you need it.

While it’s definitely not a great idea to trust everyone, traveling solo will undoubtedly show you that most people are genuine, giving you a brighter view of the world. Of course, balance this bright outlook with research about your destination beforehand, always stay vigilant and precautions.

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