I’ve hit a travel hiatus. And, travel in the near future doesn’t seem promising. But, I’ve found out that even being at home (lockdown 3.0 for Bangalore) we can experience the rush of being on a vacay. I love travelling for leisure, who doesn’t? So, I went about finding ways to find that rush even if I’m cooped up at home. Here are 20 life lessons you can pick from travel.
1. Start your day early, you’ll get more things done!
This may sound blah for the night owls but I am one too, buddy! Though on vacations I’m an early bird just so that I can see the sunrise, catch an early breakfast in an otherwise crowded cafe and see more sights. I’ve woken up before 6 AM in Goa, just to catch the sunrise. Even after having a late night. But, I can’t argue the results because it was simply beautiful. How many of you have even caught the sunrise in your own home?
2. Take it slow, don’t burn out at the beginning
Have you ever climbed a trek very fast the first couple of miles and then can’t feel your legs midway? The same thing applies in your everyday life. Go slow, but steady. Get things done but don’t overdo it. But that doesn’t mean you pile things up for the evening when deadlines creep up and you end up being a ball of anxiety. (Been there, done that!)
3. Enjoy the local specialities—Food, sights, nature
I don’t know if you face this, but home food is not “comfort food” anymore. I am bored with my own cooking. But, take inspiration from your local cuisine and whip up something different or even try a recipe of something you loved in your travel. Don’t miss out on your local treasures—parks, architecture and nature!
4. Take a break to refuel
Why we feel exhausted is because we miss our breaks—lunch, breakfast, tea, dinner. No matter what, take a break. Don’t sit for more than 30-40 minutes at a time. Road trips are not fun when you keep driving and don’t fuel up. You’ll get stranded somewhere and in life, you’re bound to get stranded with an illness you don’t want. Corporate burnouts are real and you don’t want to be a statistic.
5. Greet every new person with a smile
With work from home being the new norm, we often don’t get to meet our own team, much less other colleagues. So, if you get the chance to smile at someone on a video call or even to a virtual stranger in the street, do it. Now with masks on, you don’t have to worry about looking creepy, or do you? 🧐
6. It is easy to make friends when you approach them first
I’ve always found it hard to start the conversation first, but I am learning. Through this, I am making a lot of new friends and I am thankful because these connections keep me from going completely loose in the head. In travel, it is easier to make friends with a smile, a shared bunk bed or even confused directions! So, open up to new friendships by taking the first step.
7. It is okay to have a different mindset
When travelling you know the cornucopia of personalities you meet and how different they think. Never be ashamed to bring in a new perspective or learn from one. If you’re wrong, then that’s not a failure but a learning curve.
8. Plan your day, you can cover a lot if you do
This is a travel lesson I learnt late! You won’t go wrong in your daily itinerary when you know what you want to cover. Start your day with a to-do list. And, never miss out on a task because you got busy.
9. Sometimes you get lost, but it’s okay
I’ve learnt the best trips happen when you get lost, literally. We took off-road routes, went to an entire different state and even found lovely landscapes just because we didn’t stick to the maps. So, if you suddenly feel lost in life, that is okay. Enjoy what you can and see how you can change your path or find the right destination.
10. Take time to just reflect on your surroundings
Sip your coffee and sit beside a window or on your balcony. How often have you given mind to your surroundings? Seen the colour of the sky? I usually find sometime in every trip to just enjoy the waves, the sunsets and the breeze. It is fun in a serene sort of way.
11. Get enough sleep!
7-8 hours of sleep will keep your refreshed whether you travel or not. And, compromising on this leads to unhappy days. You’re either grumpy, sleepy, tired or simply look bad. No one wants dark circles in your photos or video calls.
12. A little sun, tan, and fresh air can do wonders
Stepping out is tough but if you have the liberty to have the sun in your face or simply enjoy some fresh air, just go for it. Vitamin D deficiency is seen in a lot of people these days because we’re always inside our homes.
13. You can save money if you compromise on luxuries
I’ve always asked myself this when I spend money: Do I really need this? Sometimes, the key to saving money is simply not having certain things—an expensive dress, a premium room or even buffet meals! But, that said, I know sometimes splurging can give you happiness but not always.
14. Sometimes being alone is a boon
Solo travel teaches you a lot of things including coping during this pandemic situation. As social beings, we often never spend time with ourselves and find it hard to get through home quarantines because we don’t know what to do alone. But being alone gives room for a lot of reflection and positive changes to your life.
15. Being independent is a thrilling experience
Again, when you travel, you take ownership, especially in solo trips. You’ll love being able to rely on yourself and find strength that you never knew you possessed. Find that within you, and bring it into your life.
16. You choose to be happy or sad about a situation
Some of my trips have gone horribly wrong and somehow, with my friends, those are my most cherished moments. We have laughed through having bad days and ending up in the weirdest possible situations. If you learn to control your happiness, your life seems easier.
17. If nothing goes as planned, just wing it
Have a plan, but nothing rigid. I make to-do lists but never stick to a certain order. Because whether in life or travel, stuff (****) happens. What you can do is, take the detours and find a way around it. Trips come to an end, life comes to an end. When you look back, never have regrets.
I know this was a long read, but thank you for finishing the article! I have more travel lessons that I apply in my daily life. Browse through my blog and you’ll have a glimpse of how travel has changed my mindset and life.