Stories about epic adventures are often the best to hear, and the best to tell. Heading out to explore new places and meet new people is a culturally enriching experience and research has shown that it is also very good for your mind, body and soul. Science has proven that traveling can help reduce stress, boost self-esteem, enhance creativity, gain knowledge about new cultures and perhaps most importantly, you learn more about yourself.

Enjoying a getaway is a great way to relax and recharge
your batteries. Many return home with a newfound motivation and energy inspired by their time away. It has
been shown that even the act of planning a getaway can generate excitement, positive thinking and creativity. Picture yourself anywhere and everywhere in the world, and then turn your dream into reality by planning your next epic adventure. The following are a quick look at the top travel benefits.

Travel Makes You Happier
Sure, a travel experience easily makes you happier by getting you away from your daily grind. However, travel
makes you happier in another way, as well. According to a study from Cornell University, money spent on doing something called “experiential purchases” will leave you with a longer-lasting sense of happiness than money spent on “material purchases.” The study found that people derive more happiness from the anticipation of experiential purchases and that waiting for an experience
tends to be more pleasurable and exciting than waiting to receive a material good.

Traveling Relieves Stress and Anxiety
Life is stressful, and traveling can help reduce stress. Sometimes it feels impossible to kick back, relax and catch your breath. In order to be the best we can be for our family, friends and coworkers,we must take the time to get away. A study conducted by the U.S. Travel Association found that 86 percent of people who travel are more satisfied with their outlook on life. Traveling can act as a physical and psychological reset.  In a randomized controlled trial conducted
by Austrian researchers and published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, one of the many great travel benefits is that it can reduce stress levels and anxiety. The researchers found that even just one short-term vacation (3 days in length) regardless of method of transportation, has large, positive and immediate effects on stress, strain, and well-being. Furthermore, the beneficial effects last quite a while after you return home. The positive effects can still be detected at 30 days post-vacation.

Travel Makes You Physically Healthier
If you are an active individual and asking why is travel important, there are some great benefits of
traveling in store for you! From running through airports and train stations to make that tight connection to hiking through uneven terrain on your mountain-climbing adventures to getting some vitamin D as you catch some rays on the beach, there are many reasons why travel is beneficial to your health.

According to a study by the Global Commission on Aging and Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, in partnership with the U.S. Travel Association, travel decreases the risks of heart attacks and makes your brain healthier. The study determined that men who take an annual vacation are 30 percent less likely to die from heart disease.

Travel Exposes You to New Things
When you travel, you are stepping outside your comfort zone. Even if your destination is relatively nearby (across the country rather than internationally), you are still experiencing new things. Life is a wonderful gift. It really is, and as we travel and experience more of the world and life, we often become filled with gratitude and appreciation for all of the beautiful moments we enjoyed and people we have shared them with. More often than not, this is a realization that we can experience and take action now while we are still alive with energy. So rather than waiting until you are saying “I wish I had” live so you can say “I’m glad I did.”