‘Solo travelling’ is probably there on almost every adventure lover’s list. Travelling with friends and family is definitely a lot of fun but solo travelling has its own charm where you most importantly get time to introspect about your own life and own self which is surely needed at one point of everyone’s life. Here is what solo travelling taught me.
1. IT’S EASY TO MAKE FRIENDS ALONG THE WAY.
It’s easier to make friends when you’re traveling solo, too. You won’t be working around anyone else’s schedule, so you’re free to grab lunch or drinks with anyone you meet for however long you’d like. As a bonus, both you and your potential new friends might be less self-conscious with a solo audience rather than a group.
2. YOU CAN BE WHOEVER YOU WANT!
Speaking of no expectations, when you’re traveling solo, you’re free to be whoever you want. You don’t have to invent a whole new persona, but you’re free to get wild, eat with your hands, and have adventures if you want to — or to just sit on the beach and read a book.
3. IT’S EMPOWERING.
When you travel alone, you can’t rely on someone else to read the map or pick up essential items for you. You’ve got to do it all. But, I guarantee you will find out quickly that you can rise to the occasion. By
making your own plans and caring for yourself, you’ll find you come away stronger, more confident, and
assured you can be self-sufficient.
4. FACING YOUR FEARS IS NOT AS SCARY AS IT SEEMS.
Of course, when you’ve got to figure everything out yourself, you may feel anxious. Maybe you’re
nervous about talking to strangers; maybe you’ll feel awkward by yourself in a restaurant or museum.
From little fears to big ones, once you decide to face them, you’ll find out you’re more capable than you
thought! Things quickly become less frightening once you step up to face them.
5. YOU LEARN YOUR LIKES AND DISLIKES.
Traveling solo gives you the freedom to experiment and find out what you like and don’t like. Without
worrying about offending anyone or saving yourself embarrassment, you can try anything and form your
own honest opinion, rather than being influenced by someone else.
6. ALONE TIME IS HEALTHY.
Another thing I’ve learned from traveling alone is that it’s healthy to be by yourself. You can relax
when you’re away from other people’s needs and expectations. You learn to love your own
company. When you’re able to enjoy spending time with yourself, you get a boost in self-esteem,
too, which decreases stress and increases happiness in the long run!
7. TRAVEL MAKES YOU INDEPENDENT.
When you are solo backpacking, a small task like getting to the airport or finding a place to
sleep can turn into a massive hassle. At times, complications will rise. When such things
happen, you learn very quickly how to plan and execute these tasks by yourself. Of course, it is
never a bad thing to ask for help, but knowing you can work through problems on your own is
invaluable. In the end these experiences lead you to be your own best trip planner and advisor.
8. IT TEACHES YOU NOT TO STRESS OUT ON LITTLE THINGS.
Travel teaches you how to handle the small things. Getting lost, your atm card getting denied,
or getting stuck in traffic when you should already be at the airport are all examples of small
stresses on the road. However, after confronting these problems a few times, I’ve learned that
things seem to fix themselves. Plus, these tiny stressful moments usually become the stories I
share with others. Travel teaches you not to worry about the things that aren’t worth your time
and energy.
9. IT TEACHES YOU THAT IT IS OKAY TO EMBRACE FAILURE.
No one is a perfect traveler and when you throw in the added bonus of foreign countries and
language barriers, a fair share of failures are likely to occur. Travel teaches you to embrace the
failures, realizing that they will actually turn into something good – if nothing else, a learning
experience. As long as you are always determine to get back up, there is nothing wrong with
falling down.
10. YOU LEARN IT IS OKAY TO BE ALONE.
Traveling the world solo teaches you how to deal with loneliness. Let’s be honest. You make
tons of friends traveling, but there are stretches when you are on your own. This gives you
ample time to learn how to entertain yourself, pick up a hobby, and delve into a fantastic travel
blog ( * cough, “this one”, * cough).
