Enjoy Total Freedom

Tobago Cays Grenadines
Credit: Goats on the Road

The freedom that travel provides is indescribable. Imagine not having to wake up to an alarm clock each and every morning, but rather, being able to go to sleep when you want to and wake up when you want. The choice is entirely yours. You're not bound by the confines of a job, at least for the time you are travelling. Each day is a blank canvas, and it's up to you paint the perfect picture. Whatever you feel like doing, you can do. Whatever you feel like eating, you can eat. If you don't want to talk to anyone, you don't have to. If you decide you want to visit a monastery, a church or the beach, you can. You're totally, 100% free to do as you please.

“Freedom is not the absence of commitments, but the ability to choose and commit yourself to what is best for you.”
– Paulo Coelho

Throw Away Your To-Do List

To-do List
Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/7729940@N06/6530383391/

On top of this new-found freedom, you'll begin to love the fact that you don't have any "real" responsibilities. The thought of paying utility bills and a mortgage will float out of your mind, replaced only by things you want to think about. Your biggest task will be reserving a bus ticket to take you to your next amazing destination, or finding a hotel room to lay your head for the night. If you forget to book that transportation onwards, or have to look a little bit harder for a room, so what? It's not like you're paying interest charges on overdue bills, or being evicted from your home for not paying the rent on time! This reduced amount of responsibility will feel like a pile of bricks has been lifted off of your shoulders.

Feel The Stress Lifting

Garmeh Iran
Credit: Goats on the Road

No responsibilities and more freedom = less stress. A huge issue that we all deal with is stress. We constantly worry about our jobs and the bills that have to be paid monthly. Getting involved in the dramas of our friends and family members can also be draining. While travelling, all of these thoughts and worries seem to melt from the mind and a huge stress is released, at least for the time being.

Being stressed out each day can make you seriously ill, and even causes you to age faster! Who wants that? By wandering around the world, you'll be able to forget about all of these things and focus on what makes you truly happy, and ultimately, healthy.

Travelers and people who live abroad are generally happier because they are following their true heart and soul. There is a sense of adventure in all of us, and those able to get out and explore the world are able to make their hearts smile.
- Darryl of Loving The Bike

Focus More On Your Health & Well-Being

Well Being

The health benefits of travel are immense. Although we all try to workout and get some exercise while living our lives at home, this can sometimes be brushed aside and replaced with socializing. Travel gives you an endless amount of time to really focus on your health and wellness. Hiking to crystal clear waterfalls, going on walks around the city, or trekking over alpine mountains becomes a part of your daily life. Exercise just happens without having to try too hard. Lugging your suitcase around, or hauling your backpack on your back while searching for a hotel will really get the heart pumping. You'll want to explore the new town you're in, so you'll end up renting a bicycle or walking around. You'll hear about a stunning shrine at the top of the mountain behind the city, so you'll hike up to it. Many people also get into sports while travelling - surfing, yoga, rock climbing, scuba diving - the opportunities are endless.

There are endless parts of the world that will continuously serve up fresh and healthy foods for you to enjoy. After an epic day of rock climbing or trekking to villages, it would be kind of counterproductive to inhale a burger and fries for dinner. In places like Asia, you can enjoy rice meals, homemade vegetable curries, light soups and fresh salads. In Latin America, beans, rice, vegetables and tropical fruits will often male it to your plate. Of course, no matter where in the world you travel, you'll want to indulge in the local cuisine, regardless of how healthy or unhealthy it may be. The important thing is to make sure you balance that deep-fried samosa, or cheesy taco with a green salad. Travel really is a great way to live a healthier lifestyle, by having the opportunity to eat better and exercise more.


Love yourself enough to live a healthy lifestyle.
- Unknown Author

No More Boring Routines

Mt Nemrut Turkey
Credit: Goats on the Road

Have you ever felt like you don't feel challenged in life?

Maybe you're on auto-pilot when at work and everything seems almost too easy. Day-to-day life can become mundane and the routine of going to your job, then returning home for dinner, watching some t.v. and going to bed 5 days a week can become quite dull. Where's the excitement and the challenge? On Saturdays and Sundays? But let's be honest, most of us are too tired on Saturday from a full week of work (and rightfully so), and Sundays we're already thinking about going back to work the next morning.

Travel really makes you exercise your mind, your ability to conquer new things and feel challenged and excited about life. How do you get from point "a" to point "b"? How do you communicate with this person who only speaks Russian? Where can you find a restaurant or hotel? Where should you travel to next?! Each and every day that you're on the road, you'll feel like your brain is having to work in ways it never had to before, which can actually be a very liberating feeling. Being challenged daily will keep your mind moving, and prevent your soul from becoming stagnant.

Time Moves Only At The Pace You Set

Time Moves Only At The Pace You Set
Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/86665756@N00/5045106045/

Time is a strange thing. When we're doing something we don't enjoy, we want it to speed up. When we're doing something we love, we want it to go slow. While at home you may find yourself staring at the clock, willing the day to be over, so you can go home to your family. While travelling, you will find yourself thinking the opposite - you'll be wishing time would go even slower so you can continue with your adventures! In fact, travel seems to make the clock come to a screeching halt. By having no commitments or worries, time seems to pass at the perfect pace. Days seem longer than usual, as does the amount of time you're asleep. You'll awake happy and energized, ready for the long day ahead!

Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going too fast - you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.
- Eddie Cantor

Life Itself Can Be An Adventure

Tobago Cays Grenadines
Credit: Goats on the Road

Even if you don't consider yourself to be an adventurous person, travel will change the way you see yourself. You'll be surprised at just how adventurous you are! Just taking the first steps in deciding to travel, especially outside of your comfort zone, is incredible and worthy of some self-praise. Adventure is for everyone, and anyone. If you're looking for an epic, crazy journey, the world offers plenty of opportunities for doing just that. Trek high in the Himalaya mountains, sail the clear seas of the Caribbean, or go on safari in search of the Big 5 in Africa. The chance for adrenaline pumping fun is endless. If you're looking to do something a little more tame, why not join a food tour, or wander off the beaten track and explore some quiet back streets? Push your limits and you'll feel a huge sense of accomplishment.

Get Out and Get Involved

Mozambique
Credit: Goats on the Road

There's so much that can be done in a day. With all the extra time you'll have on the road, you can get involved in new activities, meet new people, learn a language, explore the unknown, or, just relax and unwind. An important aspect of travel is learning about the place you're visiting. Knowing about their culture, customs and way of life is imperative if you want to have a real connection with the people and the country. The moments you'll have with the local people will stay in your heart for a lifetime. Things you never even imagined can happen if you put in some effort and are open to meeting new people. Imagine spending 6 nights in a complete stranger's home and being shown nothing but hospitality and kindness. Picture yourself teaching nomadic herdsmen the art of fly-fishing, or finding yourself in rural Africa dancing to the sound of local tribal drums! Even if you don't speak the common tongue, feelings and words can be explained by expression and hand motions. Every time you think back on those special moments when you're back home, you'll feel an unstoppable smile start to creep across your face.

Look Inward and Discover Who You Are

Self Reflection
Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/46174988@N00/377919768/

More important than learning about a country and its people, is learning about yourself. It's rare that we have enough time or the opportunity to really search inward, but when we're truly quiet and can sit and reflect on life, we realize things about ourselves - both good and bad. Sitting on a long train journey watching the landscape whiz by, or gazing at an incredible sunset from the beach is the perfect chance for you to think back on life. Travel allows you to do some serious introspection and ultimately, you'll return home a more enlightened and open person.

Travel can be one of the most rewarding forms of introspection
- Lawrence Durrell

Travel Is The Evolution Of Self

Happy Woman

Believe it or not, travel changes you. Your outlook on the world will be transformed and you'll start to look at your life and yourself in a whole new light. Things that once seemed important, won't matter. Material items won't be considered a necessity, superficial things will seem like a waste of time and you'll feel calmer and more relaxed.

There's no denying that travel is essential for the mind, body and soul, and once you've completed an epic trip of your own, you won't be wondering why that wild-eyed, excited friend of yours is very animatedly telling you their travel tales. You'll be there right beside them, totally enthralled in what they're saying...and adding your own incredible stories and moments from the road.

Travel HeaderGoats on the Road

Have you ever spoken to a friend or family member who has just returned from an epic trip abroad, and they're talking 90 miles an hour with wide eyes and a massive smile on their face? Well, there's a reason for this. In fact, there are many reasons for their excitement and desire to spill everything about what they've seen and done over the past months, or years.

Travel creates an electric pulse within you. You become so recharged and energized from a trip abroad that it's nearly impossible to return home the same person you were when you left. You'll want to explode with stories, memories and events that happened while you were away...often expecting that your listener will have all of the time in the world to sit back and listen to you go on and on about what you did in Ethiopia!

It doesn't matter whether you explore on weekends, go away for two weeks each year, or travel extensively, travel will change you and make you a happier (if not better) person.