These days, it’s not unusual to feel sad or stressed from time to time. The modern world can be tough to deal with. However, when those moods start to happen more frequently, you need to do something about it. ​For many people, that something is a vacation. You know that traveling is fun, but it can also improve your mental health well after the trip has come and gone. Here’s why traveling can help your mental health — and how you can make the most of your time off. ​ You Need Some Time Off Stress is a normal part of modern life, but it can cause some damage to your body and mind. As Psychology Today explains, too much stress in your life can lead to problems like insomnia, depression, and illness. What’s worse is how this can lead to a downward spiral where getting stressed makes you ill, which only makes you more stressed. This is where traveling can help. When you head out for a vacation, even for just a few days, your stress level starts to drop. Seeing new places, exploring new restaurants and bars, even just staying in a hotel can all help improve your mental health. This is especially true when you are in addiction recovery or need some time for self-healing. Getting away from your usual behaviors and haunts can help you revive your inner peace while keeping away from bad habits. Getting The Most From Your Vacation But not every trip is the same. How can you get the most from your precious vacation days? The first thing you need to do is plan. Explore your travel options, including different locations and amenities. If you love the ocean, a trip to the beach or even a lake can do wonders for you. If you prefer the city life, pick a city you haven’t been to before. In fact, TheMuse.com explains that the anticipation of vacations can improve your mental health. Smarter Travel also has a list of five ways to make your vacation wonderful, such as: Don’t overplan your trip. Instead, include some downtime and space between events or hot spots so you don’t feel rushed or stressed. Remember that many people online leave bad or great reviews that either aren’t real or are simply from their perspective. Skip locations on big travel times like New Orleans in Mardi Gras or Florida during spring break. Costs are higher, and the crowds can be stressful. Instead, go to places during off-peak times of the year. You should also consider getting outdoors, such as camping or just visiting a national park. Bringing Your Pet Going somewhere special can really improve your mental health, but what if you’re worried about leaving your pet behind? Believe it or not, many people can bring their pet along for the trip. In fact, one great idea is to visit nature with your pet. By combining the healing effects of nature and spending time with your pet, you can improve your mental health. Start Planning Your Trip TodayThere are a lot of mental health benefits to traveling — if you do it right. Start by planning your trip and picking a great destination. Don’t overplan, and go where there aren’t so many tourists. You should also consider enjoying nature and bringing your pet. When you finally get back home, you’ll be rested and ready to get back to life. Author: Henry Moore; Fit Well Traveler Henry@fitwelltraveler.com

Hello my friends….I am so grateful that I am able to sit on my sofa and write to all of you….last week at this time I was not confident that I would have a home, let alone a sofa, to come back to. Now that the storm has passed and I am settling back into my life, I am allowing some time to reflect on what this experience has given and not what it took…for me it is a tremendous amount of gratitude, love and compassion…..gratitude for each new day and with it the opportunity to contribute to my community in some meaningful way, love for my family and friends, and compassion for those who struggle to face each day due to poverty, sickness, loneliness, or devastating loss…..after the storm passed, for a few days I was inconvenienced because I did not have power……not having the luxury of electricity allowed me to spend quality time with my family…..to be in the moment, just as is, to practice non attachment and radical acceptance. During that time, there were moments of tension and stress, but we were together and it was authentic, and real and honest, and we accepted each other as is…So my friends I may have lost power for a few days, some shingles from my roof, and a few trees…..in return I have been reminded of just how precious life is and what matters most…family and friends, my beloved dogs, love, community, kindness….and to be present for it all….for the joy and the stress…..in any given moment what’s wrong is always available…..but if we allow ourselves to be open to the experience, we can also find what is right. With peace & love, ​Val