Nothing stimulates the mind quite like the experiences you have when you visit a new country. You’re seeing new sights, eating new food, and listening to a different language. Travel engages the parts of your brain that are involved in creativity, and it gets the neurons firing. Sometimes our home environment is the biggest stressor in our lives. Getting away from it for a while can help you relax and gain some perspective.
A study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that students who studied abroad were more open to new experiences. You don’t have to travel to the other side of the world. But you should make an effort to engage with a culture that isn’t yours, one that is new and exciting. You’ll be glad you did! If money is a worry, make it a low-cost holiday, perhaps one of those vacations where you volunteer to build a house or teach a class. Most important, don’t take your problems with you! Leave work at the office and home problems at the front door. Give your brain, your body, and your soul a break.