17 Reasons Why Traveling Is Not the Answer to Your Problems
Contrary to what you might have heard about traveling, it is not always a solution to every problem. Some people deal with stress, family problems, relationship issues, money issues, internal dilemmas, and many other tough problems by packing their bags and going on a trip.
In many ways, going away for a while might be soothing and give you time to think, strategize, or plan, but travel is hardly ever a permanent solution to these problems. Here’s why.
Runners Can’t Outrun Their Problems
You may think changing your scenery will magically change your mindset, but your problems don’t care about borders or time zones. They’re going to follow you wherever you go, whether it’s stress, anxiety, or relationship issues. It’s a little like trying to outrun your shadow, it’s never going to work.
Temporary Escape
Yes, a vacation can give you a break from your day to day routine, but it’s only temporary. When you get back to your normal life, the issues you left behind are still waiting for you. It’s like hitting the pause button, the problems don’t go away, they’re just paused until you come back.
Travel Is Expensive Therapy
Traveling is a band-aid for deeper emotional wounds, and it’s expensive. All of that can add up quickly, leaving your wallet lighter, but your problems the same. Sometimes, investing in real therapy will do you more good than a whirlwind trip to the other side of the world.
You May Feel More Disconnected
Sometimes being away from home can make you feel more disconnected from your life. You’re far from your support system, your daily comforts, and your familiar surroundings. Travel can sometimes make you feel more isolated, especially if you’re traveling alone.
It Can Be Stressful
Travel can be more stressful than staying home, especially with delays, lost luggage, and language barriers. If you’re not careful, the pressure to make every moment count can turn your trip into a series of high expectations and low payoffs; you’ll be more frazzled when you get back than when you left.
Happiness Isn’t a Destination
No matter how great your destination is, happiness isn’t something you can book on Expedia. Even if you sit on a beach in Bali, you will still feel as overwhelmed or down as you did back home. Happiness is not a place; it is an attitude you develop inside.
The ‘Post Travel Blues’ Are Real
After a trip, many people experience a letdown. The post-travel blues come after the excitement of new places and new experiences has worn away, but when reality sinks in, it can really hit. Traveling can be jarring because of the contrast between the highs and the lows of everyday life.
Deal with Your Responsibilities
You might have the time of your life, but eventually you’ll have to come back to the real world where bills, work, and personal responsibilities are still waiting for you. Travel doesn’t erase those obligations, it just pushes them back.
Escaping Can Become a Habit
Travel can become a habit once you start using it as an escape from your problems. Rather than facing things head-on, you might run away all the time. Eventually, you’ll have to stop running and face the problems you’ve been avoiding.
You Can’t Buy Lasting Change
Travel can give you perspective and introduce you to new experiences, but it can’t buy lasting change; that has to come from within. If you’re looking for a major life transformation, no travel miles will fix problems that need to be reflected more deeply or acted upon.
Over-Romanticize the Experience
You can easily envision a perfect trip, but the reality is often less glamorous Bad weather, tourist traps, and things that don’t go as planned can lead to disappointment. The journey won’t always be Instagram-perfect.
Cultural Differences
When traveling to a new country, it is often frustrating rather than freeing to deal with cultural differences. The challenge is real whether it’s on public transport systems that you’re not familiar with or different social norms.
Emotionally Exhausting
Being on the go physically and emotionally can be exhausting With exploring new places, you may find yourself more exhausted than when you left instead of relaxed. Travel isn’t always the recharge people think it’s going to be.
It Won’t Fix Relationships
If you’re looking for a romantic getaway to help a struggling relationship, think again. Spending time together in a beautiful setting can be fun, but it won’t fix deep rooted issues. Pretty backdrops don’t make real relationships, communication and work do.
Social Media vs. Reality
Let’s be real, many of us travel in part because of the pictures we see on social media. Travel Instagram and real travel are two very different things. The perfect beach photos don’t capture the crowded tourists, or the less than perfect moments, and comparing your experience to what you see online can make it feel underwhelming.
You Might Miss What You Really Need
Sometimes what you really need isn’t a trip but connection, therapy, and in many cases, good rest. Traveling may present a temporary solution to escape problems and stress, but you will still need to take steps to address deeper needs.
Coming Home Can Be a Shock
Coming home can feel like a slap in the face right after a vacation. One day you’re exploring new places and have no responsibilities, and the next you’re thrown back into the daily grind. That can be harder to deal with than you think it will be.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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Even if you’ve been on a safari in the past, an African photo safari is something you want to experience or at the very list add to the top of your bucket list.
But first, what is a photo safari? The phrase “photo safari” is not a common sentence structure but its meaning can be deduced easily. An African photo safari in general context means going on an adventure with the sole purpose of taking high-quality pictures.
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