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Three Secrets To a Longer Life by Traveling
So, you’re about to start the experience of a lifetime. Living in another country with people you don’t know No pressure. During your studies abroad, you are going to meet new people, gain new experiences, and overcome so many challenges that you won’t even remember being scared anymore. You’ll be a traveler if you aren’t already. But, will you live longer when you’re a traveler?
You can be a tourist one day and a traveler the other. Photo by Eddy Billard // Unsplash
Tourist or traveler?
Many times the word “tourist” has a negative ring to it. Maybe the biggest difference is the appearance they have. Usually, a tourist is easy to spot among the locals, carrying a guidebook, camera, and clothes that are not worn home. Tourists are very attached to their comfort zone: tourist busses, main roads, tours, whatever you can think of. They also may stick to big cities and speaking English, without learning the local language a bit. But then again, what makes you a “traveler”?
If the word “tourist” has a negative ring, the word “traveler” may cause a cringe on your face. Anyways, a traveler is considered usually the opposite: not standing out of the crowd but blending in, absorbing the culture and mirroring it to the traveler’s own culture. Also, exploring the less-traveled areas and interacting with the locals is considered a very “traveler” thing to do. Learning and experiencing are the key-words, instead of relaxing or partying. Tourism-driven economies are not in the main focus of a real traveler.
But after all you can choose to be a tourist one day, then a traveler the next.
Good benefits in your body, soul, and mind. Photo by Simon Rae // Unsplash
Benefits of exploring
Traveling is definitely good for your body, soul, and mind. It has been researched that traveling has a good impact on your health, especially heart. People who travel, have fewer heart attacks and diseases than others. Adventurers have also been proven happier and more satisfied with their lives in some studies. It’s a huge mood booster indeed. On top of everything, walking on your travels has a big impact on your health so get yourself long-lasting shoes!
In addition, by doing things like volunteer work or attending a beach clean-up, you can make a difference, give something back to the community, maybe gain new skills and socialize. These things do wonders on your psyche.
Every traveler can make their own philosophy. Photo by Eirik Skarstein // Unsplash
Traveling philosophy: thoughtful adventures
Hakuna Matata. It means no worries. Try to get this idea in your head and get the travel bee buzzing. Remember that there is no “wrong” way to travel. It’s up to you what you like, enjoy, and appreciate in your travels. For some, like myself, it means budget backpacking and for others, it’s for example, road-tripping. So, before your travels think about what do you want and what do you have to give. Make your own passenger philosophy. It’s said that with no stress, you live longer. When you’re 100 years old you have time to think back.
Plus, if you fail, people are usually very helpful as long as you remember to ask for help.
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Traveling has a stress-relieving impact. Photo by Priscilla Du Preez // Unsplash
With the combination of these three things: mindset, health benefits, and good stress relieving philosophy, I would say yes; travelers do live longer!
Asia Exchange is a Finnish company providing study abroad opportunities in the Asia Pacific for students from all around the world. Want to get travel tips and new blog posts straight to your inbox? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter! If you have any questions about studying abroad, feel free to contact us! We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
This article was written by our marketing intern Jenna!
