By Sarah Curless
So, you want to travel the world? You’ve read every inspirational article and consumed every video about how travelling has completely changed people’s lives.
Yet, when you return from your trip, you can’t help but feel… the same?
It’s true, travel has the power to broaden your horizons, but only if you open your mind to it. You get what you put in, and how you spend your time determines what you will gain.
If you want to optimise the full potential of travel, you’ve come to the right place! I’ve compiled a list of ways to help you travel with intention and discover more about yourself in the process.
Keeping a journal by your side
If you know me, you know that I could not live without my journal. If I didn’t document every little thought on paper, I am convinced that I would be driven insane.
But whether you’re an avid journalling enthusiast like me or have never picked up a pen in your life, I am a firm believer that anyone can benefit from this practice.
When you’re heading to a completely new place, there is no time when this is more crucial. Travelling exposes your brain to an abundance of new stimuli: from new foods and sights to new experiences and emotions.
When all of this remains in your head, it can easily become overwhelming and send your mind into an information overload.
The best way to combat this is to simply pick up a pen and write down every thought, no matter how messy or complex. Write down what you’re learning, what you’re feeling, and before you know it, you’ll understand yourself like never before.
Not only does it benefit your mental health by exorcising strong emotions, but it allows you to document your feelings in different environments which you can look back and reflect on.
Before you panic, it doesn’t need to be a daunting task. You don’t need to sit down for hours writing reams and reams, five minutes on a commute can be enough.
If you open your mind to it, you’d be surprised at just how much you can discover.
Disconnecting from the screens
In the modern day, most of us see the world through a screen.
How many times have you got on a train and seen rows of faces looking down, illuminated by a white light? Or come home from work only to waste away another evening mindlessly scrolling?
Every moment we spend looking down at our screens, we miss a real moment in the world around us.
We already spend so much time doing this at home, wouldn’t it be a shame to let it take away from our joy of travel?
If you want to truly immerse yourself in a new location, put the phone away. Even when you’re surrounded by breathtaking sights, feeling the buzz of a phone can be all too tempting.
So, eliminate the distraction: turn it off, silence your notification, keep it tucked away in your bag.
Whilst I acknowledge that having a phone at hand can be necessary in our day and age for tickets and navigation, there are ways around this. For example, you can delete any of the apps that you find distracting or would be tempted to click on.
Don’t worry, you can always reinstall them when you get home, I promise not much will have changed! If this is a step too far, even simply setting time limits or putting your phone on do not disturb can greatly help.
Instead of missing out on exciting moments in the city, schedule in time to text loved ones or do a social media check at the end of the day.
Without this constant distraction, you’d be surprised at how much more you start to notice in the real world.
People watching
It’s no secret that travel isn’t always relaxing. In fact, most of the time it can feel like a hectic dash from place to place, desperately attempting to cram everything in.
But when you’re always in a rush and focused on where you’re headed next, you miss all the beautiful moments in between.
The birds chirping, the performer on the streets, the sights and sounds of a city waking up: it all passes you by.
Doing exciting activities and seeing main attractions can be amazing, but moments of stillness and reflection are equally as important.
When you get the chance, take a moment to stop and take in the surroundings around you. Yes, it may feel silly or unproductive, but you will be surprised at how there is to notice.
My favourite way to practice this is by watching people, simply taking notice of the people around me and making my own stories of who they are and what they’re doing.
Not only is this a great bonding activity to do with friends to pass the time, but it can be just as enjoyable alone to keep you grounded and present.
Whilst the cities you visit may be beautiful, it is the people who live there that make them truly special.
By simply taking a moment to watch the locals, you are getting a true glimpse into life in a different place beyond the surface level.
Not only does this help you to take in your surroundings and be present, but it paints a true depiction of the place.
Talking to strangers
You don’t always just have to watch strangers from afar. In fact, speaking to new people is arguably one of the most valuable aspects of travel.
I know, we’ve all heard the phrase ‘stranger danger.’ But in my opinion, strangers are just friends you haven’t met. Whilst you should exercise caution, speaking to new people can be so insightful.
Humans are so complex and interesting, and there is so much wisdom to be learned from each other.
The world is vast, and people from different locations have different cultures, upbringings and outlooks on the world entirely. If you only speak to people from your hometown, you’re missing out on so many unique perspectives.
So when you next go into a cafe, check in a hotel or simply just spy an opportunity, I urge you to spark a conversation with someone. You will learn the kind of wisdom that a museum plaque can’t teach you.
Not only is there so much to discover from strangers, but if you’re travelling alone, it can help bring a sense of connection.
Picking up a language can aid you in this, but even if you don’t know a single word of the native language, you’d be surprised at the power of non-verbal communication.
If this interests you and you want to take it one step further, why not bring a travel journal? In this book, you can ask the people you meet on your travels to write down their best life advice, and by the end, you’ll have a beautiful collection of world views and memories.
Capturing the moment
When you hear the word ‘photography’ you may think of irritating crowds flocking to the Eiffel Tower like sheep. Or long queues of people waiting for their chance to get a picture next to the Trevi Fountain.
I know what you’re thinking, photography is the epitome of ‘annoying tourists.’ However, that’s not the way I see it.
Photography, in my opinion, is a powerful form of creative expression and a tool for self-discovery.
Admittedly, when I first started my photography journey, I fell victim to the stereotypes.
After seeing stunning stock photos of landmarks online, I felt eager to recreate them. Hurrying towards the big tourist spots, I snapped a shot identical to everyone else in the crowd.
Photography, however, has the power to express your own creative voice. There are eight billion people on the planet, yet only you see the world through your eyes. Isn’t it beautiful that you can show others what the world looks like from your unique perspective?
Instead of aiming for just the cliches, always keep your camera around your neck and simply see what happens. Start to capture anything that sparks your attention, be it something you find beautiful, an interesting reflection or a wholesome moment.
This is a great way to prevent you from aimlessly wandering around, as you start to become present and notice the small moments around you.
It is these little moments that capture the true essence of a place, rather than the big tourist hubs.
This is also a powerful tool for self-discovery, as it shows you the kind of things that you notice in the world, which can be vastly different to others.
So instead of trying to copy shots you see online, take a camera and try to find your own creative expression. Not only is this a great way to document the trip, but it will help you to appreciate your surroundings like never before.
Grounding
How often are you so excited to see a landmark, but once you get there you immediately want to move on?
Are you guilty of seeing something magnificent, snapping a picture, and getting bored?
Ironically, these are the moments we look back on fondly and tell people about.
But how come we never appreciate them in the moment?
The good news is, you can break out of this habit. The best way to do this is to be fully present and soak in every moment.
I know what you’re thinking, this is easier said than done.
A technique that works best for me when I want to slow down and be present is the ‘5,4,3,2,1’ grounding technique.
Simply take a moment to pause and think, “What are five things I can see, four things I can hear, three things I can hear, two things I can touch, and one thing I can touch.”
By the end, you will have engaged all of your senses and be so much more immersed in the moment.
This allows you to access a power; not letting the moment pass you by and soaking in every second of your trip.
Schedule spontaneity
When you’re planning a trip, the first thing you plan is likely the big tourist attractions.
After all, you wouldn’t go to Rome without seeing the colosseum, right? Or Paris without the Eiffel Tower?
Whilst these sights are definitely worth seeing, what if I told you that they often aren’t the things you remember most?
On my trip to Japan, I curated a jam-packed itinerary full of “must see” tourist sights.
But to my surprise, not one of my favourite moments from the trip was on the itinerary.
The things I remember most are the random side quests, the hidden gems, and all the beautiful spontaneous moments.
Planning has a time and space, but there is so much more value from simply seeing what happens.
So, next time you go on a trip, I challenge you to set aside time so simply see where the wind takes you.
Who knows what you might discover?
There is a whole world out there to be discovered, and the best way to do so is by being present and immersing yourself in every moment. Hopefully some of these tips will help you make the most out of your trip and fully appreciate the new surroundings. If you try and implement one of these on your next trip, who knows
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