You’ll look at your life with a sense of gratitude
BLAME IT
ON THE
SUNSHINE
Unless you’re heading to Finland
between November and January,
when the sun hardly makes an
appearance some days, travelling
generally means more sunshine
exposure. We all know that
baking in the sun all day is
damaging for our skin, but
getting some daily vitamin D is
important for bone health, and
is essential for the absorption
of minerals like calcium and
phosphorus. Time spent in sunny
places with a big dose of fresh
air can also leave you feeling a
whole lot brighter on the inside!
See things differently
There is a real comfort to being familiar with your daily surroundings,
but actively getting out of your comfort zone and spending time in a
foreign country, experiencing new things and mingling with people
from other cultures is a wonderful way to expand your mind and allow
you to see the world through different eyes. Spending time with locals
whose lives are vastly different to your own can make you more
open-minded and empathetic, and you’ll often look at your own life with
a greater sense of gratitude. Bypass chain restaurants in favour of the
busiest street food stand, or book yourself in for a cooking class. See
if there are any cultural celebrations you can attend, learn some basic
phrases in the language and chat to people you meet – they often have
insider knowledge that you won’t find in any guidebook.FITNESS MADE EASY
Depending on the type of trip you have
planned, travelling can improve your
fitness. For longer legs of your journey,
sitting on a plane, bus, boat or train can
be inevitable, but once you’re settled,
choosing to explore your destination on
foot or bike is an easy way to get moving.
Often, it’s also a far more interesting way
to see a city as footpaths let you go
places that cars can’t. If you’re a fitness
fanatic or adventure seeker, do some
research and plan your holiday around
activities like hiking, mountain biking or
even boutique fitness classes that aren’t
offered in your home town. Whatever
ways you can find to get active will be
beneficial for your whole body, including
your heart, lungs, brain and muscles,
especially if you’re usually deskbound.