9 Top Tips For Mindful Travel

Katy Ratican

Freelance copywriter, editor, social media manager and blogger - Check out her blog Katy Said What?

When travelling for pleasure, you are more likely to slow down and take in your surroundings, compared with your average day at home. This gives you a greater opportunity to better understand your feelings and allows you to appreciate more simple activities that can get overlooked in your normal routine.

To take advantage of this, and to allow you to practice more mindful travel, here are some top tips that will help you get more from your travel experiences in the future.

1. Open your mind

The world we live in can be hectic and whether we like it or not, that craziness can make it too easy to become judgemental and closed-minded. Travelling gives you a terrific opportunity to free your mind of that judgement and learn to recognise new cultures and ways of life. If your mind is open, you are sure to learn some wonderful life lessons.

2. Embrace different cultures

If you are truly going to experience mindful travel, you must be willing to immerse yourself in the local culture. As each day of your trip passes, aim to learn something new; not only will this have a positive effect on your personal well-being, it will make your adventures even more exhilarating.

3. Make the time

Travel means your usual schedule is turned upside, so maintaining your regular mindfulness routine can be difficult. Ensure you make time for meditation exercises; just ten minutes first thing in the morning, or just before bed, can maintain your mental well-being while away. In fact, the change of pace could be an opportunity for you to get new insight into your mindfulness.

4. Make friends with the locals

To enjoy a more fulfilling travel experience, making friends with local people is a must. They will open your eyes to their culture and give their perspective on the world, which can do incredible things for your outlook on life. These friendships will impact the way you live long after you return to your usual routine.

5. Get the kids involved

If you’re travelling with children, excite them too about mindfulness. Research has shown that mindfulness improves focus in young people, allows them to think in more innovative ways and brings them greater calmness. Make mindful travel a family affair with ‘This Books Stinks’, an activity book aimed at young adventurers. Packed-full of different things to do, this makes a great travel scrapbook for kids to bring home with them.

6. Keep a journal

Keeping a travel journal can hugely help to keep memories alive when you return. Don’t be afraid of maintaining a journal; noting down just a few sentences while the adventures are fresh in your brain is enough to help you develop a happier and more peaceful mind. Mindful travel journal ‘You Are Here’ guides you through a rich variety of mindfulness exercises designed to help you get the most from your experiences.

7. Embrace everything

There’s a good chance you may never visit a place again, so don’t waste time taking it for granted. Instead, choose to embrace the opportunity and regularly remind yourself that you’re fortunate to be able to have the freedom to travel.

8. Revel in the freedom

Oh, the freedom that travel brings can be immense. Whether you’re visiting a city just a few miles from home for the first time or are in a completely different country on the other side of the world, enjoy the freedom the adventure brings. You are free to make whatever decisions you choose and that can be incredibly liberating.

9. Live in the now

With an open mind and the freedom to explore, you can live in the now while travelling. By practising mindfulness techniques, you can learn to become present in every moment, making your trip even more fulfilling. That Was Now gives you a chance to transform the way you think and feel, thereby improving your overall well-being.

The next time you pack a bag for an adventure, remind yourself of these useful tips for more mindful travel. The chance to achieve more fulfilling wanderlust is yours; you simply have to take it.

Want to know how to write the perfect travel journal? Click here