Whether this adventure is on your bucket list or conjures up an actual memory, you no doubt have experienced the amazing power of travel to literally light up your brain. Neuroscience research is revealing how profoundly health-giving travel can be, both in the moment and for years to come. And surprisingly, how you feel when you travel is a simple barometer for whether it is having a beneficial impact on your brain. The more you love what you are doing, the more you light up your brain. Because the brain is a ‘use it or lose it’ proposition, cognitive function is highly dependent on whether we engage in a variety of interesting, fun, challenging activities that protect our brains from decline and disease. Travel enables us to do just that. Given that adult lives are often full of stress and everyday demands, travel becomes the perfect antidote. It provides a welcome change from routine, new places and people to spark our curiosity, and we can take time out to rest and relax. These positive experiences create powerful biological responses: Perhaps the most potent health benefit from travel occurs after you get home! Travel is the gift that keeps on giving, because the brain prioritizes positive, meaningful experiences when choosing what to remember – and the more emotional, the more powerful is our memory of it. These memories last longer and trigger memories of other similar experiences. So we can relive our wonderful travel adventures over and over again with the same boost of feel good neurotransmitters. In fact, these biological boosts are so powerful they can overcome future stress and even reverse depression. The combination of loving what you’re doing, exploring a variety of activities and deeply meaningful experiences while tapping multiple brain networks – these all add up to a virtual health bonanza in every travel adventure. Building a rich store of happy memories is a sign of both a well-lived life and a resilient brain. So, before you take your next vacation do your brain a huge favor:
Think carefully about your next travel adventure Choose places you love or are excited to go to Plan and anticipate with excitement and joy Find a balance between new, different and challenging activities, and those that create peace and restful relaxation Be curious, playful, caring Make real connections with your environment and its people Build empathy with others through acts of caring and service Most of all, love what you do and look for the joy in every moment Then when you get home, sit back and enjoy the memories as often as possible Repeat
Featured photo credit: JeniFoto via shutterstock.com
