Adventure travel: You, but better

We're always being told about things that we should be doing that are good for us — whether it's eating healthy, staying active, investing in organic foods or spending time with the kids at the family dinner table. 

But what about travel? Can traveling be good for your physical, mental and spiritual health? When done right, hell yeah. So I've put together this list of reasons why travel, especially travel that gets you out of your comfort zone, should move from your bucket list right to the top of your planning list for today.

1. Travel builds your confidence. When you stay at home visiting the same places you always go, seeing the same things you always see, doing the same things you've always done, you never grow. You never figure out how to move forward, try new things and learn new ideas — all of which are critical for building courage and determination.
   
   
2. Being outside has multiple health benefits. The research is pretty impressive:  Increased vitamin D levels, physical movement, improved mood and concentration, and less pain and depression. Not bad for spending some time in the fresh air (especially when compared with the side effects of many medications used to treat illness). 
   
   
3. Travel encourages empathy and presence. Try driving around your neighborhood sometime and pretend like it's the first time you've seen the trees, houses and signs. I can guarantee you that you'll pick up on things you never noticed before. Also, when you see how other people live, you tend to have more empathy for their troubles and struggles.
   
   
4. You're only as old as you feel. The simple act of putting yourself out there, of trying something scary (even if it’s just sleeping in a tent) will allow your inner heroine to emerge faster than anything else. Trust me.
   
   
5. Exercise + nature = supercharged brain. Whether it's stress, multi-tasking, problem solving or prioritizing, your brain is powered by the endorphins and other chemicals that can only be produced when you exercise and when you get outdoors.
   
   
6. You get comfortable with unpredictability. Change is hard for a lot of people, but when you're a traveler (or a parent, for that matter), you begin to understand that change is inevitable, and you might as well go with the flow instead of trying to fight it all the time.
   
   
7. Getting dirty is a good thing. It teaches you to let go, to accept life on its own terms and to roll with the punches. Whether you're on the back of a mountain bike (my all-time favorite way to get dirty) or just getting a little sweaty hiking up a hill, dirty = healthy.
   
   

One of my favorite quotes of all time is when Helen Keller said, "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." What are you waiting for? The money? The right time? Life to get less stressful? Find your way out of those obstacles in whatever way you can, and start looking for adventure.

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