Why Travel Won't Solve All Your Problems...but it May Solve Some

Having recently returned back from a five-weeks abroad, I have some things I have learnt which I'd like to share...

Photo by Ross Parmly on Unsplash

Everyone these days seems to want to travel the world. In fact, 95% of people in a survey (conducted in 2021) were interested in travelling internationally. Anecdotally, it is the number one thing I see on dating profiles I come across. What is the obsession with travelling the world? And will it actually improve your life?

There are obviously varying reasons as to why people travel. These include escapism, challenging yourself, learning, exposure to different cultures, self-discovery, gratitude, and relationship building. All are valid reasons, but ultimately, what I am concerned about is people using travel as a means of extended escapism and seeing it as the primary way to happiness.

As I recently returned from an extended trip, I would like to share some of the insights I developed from my 5-weeks abroad.

My Experience

First of all, I would like to say that I am incredibly fortunate to have been able to do this. Not many people historically, or in the present could dream of doing what I was able to do. I am lucky and truly privileged in this sense.

Photo by Anete Lūsiņa on Unsplash

The main reason I wanted to go away for an extended period was because the last four years had been pretty rough. A lot had occurred in my life which had never been properly digested or understood. Starting with some things in university, then the pandemic, followed by a string of other personal things all of which seemed to smudge together into an endless, and undefinable, blur. I decided that I needed to draw a line in the sand. I went against the advice of the Stoic Seneca:

“How can novelty of surroundings abroad and becoming acquainted with foreign scenes or cities be of any help? All that dashing about turns out to be quite futile. And if you want to know why all this running away cannot help you, the answer is simply this: you are running away from your own company.”

Daily Quote #482: Seneca, Letter 28

I must admit it can be futile if you do not put in the work and contemplation to reflect on how you have been feeling. But sometimes you need the distance from your life to understand what was going on. Sometimes you literally do just need a break. Some new perspectives from hearing the experiences of other people can really snap you out of your self-indulgent headspace.

I was confused about so much in my life. Should I just quit what I am doing and go into a 9-5 job? Live the simple life? Turns out that when you interact with different people and hear their experiences, you may change your mind. You begin to understand and go: 'Wait a minute, I don't actually have it that bad. Things might not be perfect right now, but how I spend my time is a lot better than the crap a lot of people have to put up with' - and a lot of them don't have a choice. It's almost like I owe it to them, to not throw away the opportunity in front of me.

Travelling can be useful to give you space. It can expose you to different people. It can show you how you want your life to be, but usually that isn't to just keep travelling. The travelling just provides an insight and fills a gap in what you were missing. For me, I think that was an issue of connectivity and accessibility to different people and areas. Simply being able to go to a café, or an ice cream parlour, within 5 minutes of where I am staying is really good. This is something I do not have as I live so incredibly remotely. Travel has reinforced this belief that this is something I need to change in my life.

Why Travel will bring you Joy, but not Happiness

Novelty of experience is thrilling. I saw incredible things on my time away. I met some amazing people too. It can build your confidence. Broaden your horizons. So, in some ways it can build your character and make you happier, but it will not deliver you happiness.

Whilst I reflect on the overall experience as being good, there were some really difficult moments. As I was travelling by myself on the other side of the world, there were times where I did feel lonely. There were times where I was overwhelmed. Times where it felt like I had made a mistake in even going. Times where I was crippled by anxiety. Honestly, these are not things I would wish to go through again, but equally experiencing them proved to myself that I can deal with them - everything is okay. You learn and develop so much from the hard times - way more than you do from the good times.

If I had travelled with friends, or a romantic partner, I feel a lot of these feelings would have been alleviated. Things would probably have been more joyous from start to finish.

Photo by Eddy Billard on Unsplash

But, as I said, there were a lot of happy moments. Awe-inspiring sights. Happy exchanges shared with strangers. These are the key moments which will stick around and become the joyous memories I reflect on, whilst the difficult times will fade away and become rose-tinted with time.

It's not the travel itself which brings you happiness, but the personal development which builds your character. And ultimately, you don't need to travel to get the same results. It depends what you want to get out of travelling, and what you aim to do. If you aim to use it as a platform to push yourself well out of your comfort zone, you may experience major personal growth; but, if you just wish to go and have a good-time do not expect anything to have changed by the time you return to normality.

So, How Should You Travel?

If you want to travel because you think it will solve your problems, my view is: travelling is pointless if it does not lead to anything meaningful. Travelling without purpose is aimless wandering. To aimlessly wander is to kill time and waste life.

You can use travel to get much needed space and distance. You can use it as time to reflect. As a way to truly push and challenge yourself. This way you can actually solve some of your problems through travelling.

Photo by Dino Reichmuth on Unsplash

I do not understand the purpose of travelling just for the sake of travelling, though. I overheard someone say, when I was away, that they did not know what they were going to do when they return home, but that was a problem for when they return home. Your time on Earth is limited and precious. If you do not use your time to move towards where you want to be, that seems very wasteful of the gift you have been given.

Your priority should not be on getting away from life. Your priority should be on building your life into what you want it to be every day, so you don't actually want to escape from it. You want to get to the point where going on holiday is a joyous addition to your life, but certainly not an escape. So, that you don't dread returning back to normal life when the holiday is over, but are actually excited about picking up where you left off.

I realised that four years with no escape is too long. Travelling for too long is not good either. (I could have stayed away from home for years, but decided my life would benefit more from me returning back home sooner.) My best estimation is that occasional holidays four times a year is probably ideal. Having 3 months on, 1 week off. You don't even necessarily need to go anywhere - just every quarter of the year take time to reflect and disconnect from the grind. Re-evaluate where you are, and where you want to go. As Seneca said:

"Our mind will be destroyed by unceasing labour.”

Daily Quote #10: Seneca, On Tranquillity of Mind

You need a holiday every now and again. They are great ways to refresh your energy. Just don't think travel will solve all your problems.

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