By …AT LEAST ONCE
My heart was beating out of my chest. Even worse, my palms were a little clammy, and my eyes were darting back and forth. All I kept doing was searching for the dangers I was always told about.
That was my experience the first time I got on an airplane by myself. I stepped out of my comfort zone and decided to travel solo. But despite all the fears, anxiety, and uncertainty. I did something that changed my life forever
What is Solo Travel?
Solo travel is simply traveling alone. It is planning that trip you have always wanted to take and going on your own.
It’s not waiting for anyone else or those in the friend group to finally decide to get their money right so that they can officially join you on that trip.
No, it’s way more straightforward than that. It’s not as complicated as those family trips. All you have to do is decide that you have had enough of playing it too safe and that it’s time for a change.
Solo travel is a hidden gem that many of us are just beginning to discover, and we love it. Because it is life-altering for many reasons.
It’s empowering.
If you are looking for a way to jumpstart your independence and empower yourself to take a bold stance. Then you need to travel solo. Like many of us, it is scary to decide to step out of the norm.
And we often ask ourselves, Is it okay to travel solo? Knowing that the answer to that question is strictly based on our opinions. At the end of the day, the answer will always be yes, it is, if you want it to be.
When I first started to travel solo, I was scared, nervous, but there was a third feeling that I did not expect and that was empowered mixed with independence.
When you travel alone, you’re in charge of where you go, what you do, and develop the ability to find your own rhythm. It gives you the courage to do your own things without the added weight of others’ opinions.
Traveling solo is one of those things that empower you by showing you what you are capable of. It proves that you are more than who others say you are.
Empowering you by showing you what you are made of in the face of adversity.
And I have to tell you that it strengthens you when you do things on your own time and for yourself. Giving you the confidence you need to take charge of your life.
It’s A path to self-discovery.
The path to self-discovery is not easy. It’s scary and often lonely.
But when you decide to travel solo, you find that many obstacles are removed from your path. Making the road to self-discovery a little less challenging.
Yes, you are alone, and yes, you are scared, but that is what it means to discover who you are. That is what it’s like to learn what you love and where you stand by doing it alone.
Solo travel guarantees you one thing, an opportunity to face who you are. An opportunity to learn what you like, where you stand, and what you like to do.
Traveling solo allows you to see yourself with new fresh eyes. As you learn to deal with adversity or just simply learn to spend time alone without being lonely. Because one of the biggest questions people tend to ask is, “is traveling solo lonely.”
And the answer is no. But as you spend time alone, you grow to enjoy your own company.
Traveling with others provides you with an opportunity to bond. Still, traveling solo provides you with an opportunity to face yourself and who you are while discovering who you want to be.
Self-discovery will not happen when you sit in your room feeling scared and sorry for yourself. But it is something you get through experiencing the world.
Experience is one of the best teachers, and the world is just waiting for you to experience it and, in return, yourself.
It Benefits Your Mental Health
We are no longer living by the old rules. You know the rules that state that taking care of your mental health is for crazy people.
Our mental health matters more today than it ever had.
And it turns out that making the decision to travel solo may be one of the most helpful decisions you can make to assist in caring for your mental health.
Besides, traveling solo is a fantastic act of self-care. It allows you to see yourself in a new light making it easier to set and accomplish goals.
Because if you can get on a plane by yourself, you can lose that 10 pounds.
Furthermore, the emotional benefits far outweigh the cons. Traveling solo provides you with the opportunity to put into practice those coping skills that are so needed to deal with those pesky emotions.
Dealing with anxiety becomes far more manageable because you are out of your comfort zone and can get a new perspective on what the troubles, stress, and fears are all about.
It helps you conquer your fears.
Most of us live our lives in fear. Replaying self-defeating prophesies of fears over and over again in our heads.
Never stepping out of our comfort zones and waiting for the world to somehow liberate us from our mental prison.
But that is not what is going to happen. The best way to conquer our fears is to actually face them. [Disclaimer: if you are afraid of rats, I am not saying go and touch them. This isn’t fear factors.]
But getting on a plan alone is an excellent way to start. It helps you face the world. A beautiful place that is full of mysteries.
Most importantly, it provides you with a way to SHUT THAT STUPID FEARFUL VOICE UP. Fear only has one job, and that is to keep you in unhappiness. To lock you up and not allow you to be free.
That’s why the best thing you can do for yourself is to go out there and conquer that fear.
When I first got on that plane, I was scared out of my mind. But as the plane took off, I began to see that there was no going back.
When my plane landed, I was a little bit less scared. As I navigated my way out of the airport. Fear had lost its power on me. And I was filled with a sense of accomplishment, ready to take on the world.
How To Get Started Traveling Solo
Now that the spark has been ignited in your heart. It is only fair that I share some tips to help you travel solo.
- Make a list of the places you want to go to and what you want to do.
- Before you travel to a place, do some research. Research the country, the people, and any other things you can think of. This way, you will have an idea of what to expect.
- Buy a suitcase and/or carry on.
- Choose the airline of your choice and shop around for tickets.
- Use a trip planning website like Expedia to plan a trip you want to take.
Travel Solo: Safety Tips
For the most part, and I mean the most, solo travel is safe and enjoyable. Often times the good outweighs the bad.
And if you are asking, is it safe to travel solo? Have no fear it is.
But depending on where you’re going, there are safety precautions that you must take.
- Share your itinerary with trusted friends and family. My friends and family have a picture of my passport and other essential documents. Just in case something were to happen.
- Safety first, so make sure you stay in thriving tourist places as well as crowded places. Don’t go anywhere alone, especially late in the night.
- Use a tour guide and expeditions tours to explore.
- Don’t hesitate to read reviews of hotels and other rooms and boards.
- Checkout travel boards on Instagram to speak to other solo nomads and read their experiences.
Final thoughts
In the end, YES, it is scary to travel alone. Making the decision to travel solo is not an easy one.
But it is something that, when you do, will change your life. It will alter the way you see yourself and propel you forward in experiencing the life you always wanted to live.
This life-altering journey is everything you always wanted and more. Are you ready?
What do you think?