The Positives of the Pandemic- Travelling with More Intention
The Positives of the Pandemic- Travelling with More Intention
Travel was one of the first things to be affected by the pandemic. Governments shut their borders to protect citizens from the spread of the virus, and we shut ourselves in our homes.
Being trapped between the same four walls for a couple of months was frustrating and lonely, it was difficult not being able to visit family and friends catch up with your favourite coworker over coffee. But Covid-19 also brought some unexpected benefits, it forced us to slow down and sit with our thoughts. It lead us back to the things that really matter, in the daily rush of our lives we often forgot to cherish time with our loved ones, and it was only when social distancing forbade us from seeing each other that we realized that ultimately human connection is one of the most important factors to our wellbeing.
As travel is slowly trickling back into our lives we can start to look forward to our next holiday. While we may be excited to escape the mundane surroundings of our homes it’s important to pause and reflect on the lessons we learned during the pandemic. Before we jet off on our adventure we should ask ourselves how can we apply these lessons when travelling, bringing more purpose and meaning to our journey.
Slowing Down
Covid-19 brought daily life to a screeching halt. Unable to go out socialising in bars and cafes, banned from taking exercise classes in the gym and forbidden any kind of social events we may have found more time on our hands than usual. At first, this was disconcerting, we had long forgotten how to stay still, especially those of us that dive into multiple projects at a time to distract us from our own thoughts.
But as we adjusted, the strange circumstances allowed us a newfound clarity. We suddenly had the space to try out new recipes ( at one point everyone on Instagram seemed to be baking banana bread) and spend more time with the people we were confined with (even when they were a little annoying at times), we got to play with our pets and take up long-forgotten hobbies. Quarantine forced us to examine the incredible pace at which our lives were flowing and helped us understand that being busy isn’t always productive.
This is a valuable lesson to carry into your travels. Instead of trying to cram in hundreds of activities into one day which you’ll barely remember, choose to commit yourself to a couple of experiences. Allow yourself time to fully engage with the things that interest you in a new location, even if it means you have to pass up that incredible restaurant that all the travel magazines are raving about. Slowing down will offer you a deeper, more meaningful experience that will leave a lasting impact on your life.
Health
The threat of a virus caused all of us to take our health more seriously. We turned to homemade remedies ( you’re lucky if a concerned older relative didn’t try to force some garlic concoction down your throat) and healthy eating. People dabbled in plant-based diets and aimed to meet the recommended daily fruit dose It wasn’t just our physical health that Covid-19 took a toll on, most people experienced heightened levels of anxiety or depressive episodes in isolation.
We relied heavily upon meditation, mindfulness, breathwork and other restorative practices to bring us some sense of peace. Some of us tried yoga for the first time, maybe a little wobbly at first, and liked it. Others tried to lift their spirits by listening to affirmations or by journaling. Whatever the method the underlying intent was the same- to create space and take care of yourself in uncertain times.
Travel can often be chaotic and a little draining, rushing around the airport and managing different time zones can leave us jittery and exhausted. The pandemic taught us the importance of taking care of ourselves, the value of returning to our inner world to self soothe and regenerate. Remember what worked for you in these times of uncertainty and apply those practices when travelling. It can be as simple as sticking in your earphones and following a quick guided meditation while your companions are asleep. Or booking yourself in for a local breathwork class in the morning. Travel should be enjoyable and invigorating, not exhausting and stressful. Take care of yourself if you want to fully relish the experiences your journey has to offer.
Human Connection
In times of uncertainty, we turn to our family and friends for comfort. It’s consoling to know that others will support you through difficulties, offer you a warm hug or a kind word. The nature of the virus, however, required that we self-isolated to protect ourselves and others. We didn’t have the assuring arms of a loved one to turn to, some people got stuck in places far away from home with no way back and others couldn’t be visited for fear of infection.
People still found ways to foster human connection. Neighbours sang and played instruments together from their balconies, people joined virtual dance classes and parties while others hosted zoom quiz nights. Old board games were pulled out after family dinners and anecdotes we hadn’t heard before were shared. Connecting with other people helped us keep sane amongst the panic and quarantine chaos, it gave us something to smile about and to cherish.
When embarking on a new adventure, remember to appreciate the connections you make along the way. Put in a little extra effort to connect with strangers at events, strike up a conversation and see where it take you. We can learn so much from simple interactions, they can expose us to new ways of thinking and teach us more about the culture of the places we’re visiting. It helps us build our understanding of the global community and grows empathy and tolerance within us. At the end of the day, there is nothing better than leaving a place knowing you made a new friend.
Nature
Covid-19 gave our planet a break for toxic emissions by shutting down human activity. We saw fish return to the canals of Venice, smog lift over major cities and heard bird song outside our windows in the absence of cars. The pandemic forced us to examine our impact on the environment and to look at the damage we are causing to our planet on a regular basis.
We grew to understand the connection between the Earth and ourselves, how if we look after it we will be rewarded with marvellous beauty. Many of us had the chance to reconnect with nature, with the closure of public spaces we ventured out on hikes and camping trips and got to spend more time in outdoor spaces.
When choosing where and how we travel post Covid-19 we should be more mindful of the role we play in protecting the planet. We should choose sustainable travel companies that care about sustainability, support ecotourism and avoid overcrowding popular areas. As visitors, we must be aware of our impact on the place we’re exploring and avoid damaging sites of natural beauty, support local people and businesses that help protect the area from pollution and be careful with how we use resources such as water in our hotels.
Nature can enrich our travel experience and take our breath away with the beautiful sights it offers. From forests and magnificent waterfalls to sparkling lagoons and proud mountains, it’s important that we respect and protect nature if we want to continue enjoying it.
Connecting With Our Own Traditions
Being unable to leave our homes and venture out into international waters, we got the chance to explore our own cultures. In modern times most of us have been swept up by the international culture and values that have come with globalization. And while fostering human connection and sharing similar experiences is wonderful, in the hectic flow of life it’s easy to forget your own traditions.
Being home with our families may have given us the opportunity to speak more in our native tongue or to help prepare custom meals we mightn’t have tasted in weeks. Some of us celebrated Easter or Ramadan with our families for the first time in a long while and were swept back into familiar childhood memories. Depending on restrictions we got the chance to travel a little around our own country, whether it was to climb a mountain or spend the afternoon in a park at a safe distance from other people.
Connecting with our roots and traditions is important in fostering our identity. It helped shape us into the people we are today. That can get lost sometimes in the hubbub of life. A post quarantine journey doesn’t have to be one where you jet off across the globe. Staying at home and exploring the things it has to offer can deepen our appreciation of our culture and our understanding of ourselves. Remembering our history and traditions can ground us and help us navigate this hectic world. So fill up your tank and mark off a couple of days for a road trip of rediscovery.