Study Finds Travel Makes You A Better Human

www.awol.com.au

If you needed any more convincing that your latest escape to *insert location here* was good for you, then news from travel booking site Expedia will just about make your day. Apparently travelling does great things for your overall health, like weight, skin and even your sex drive; and it’ll also make you feel a whole lot younger.

The UK site conducted a survey of 31 million travellers who had recently taken a vacation and found that 81 percent of the participants reported feeling better as a direct result of their vacation. Accordingly, 46 percent of people felt “relaxed” after travel, 42 percent said they felt “happier” and 35 percent said they felt “less stressed”. While this isn’t groundbreaking news, it certainly adds fuel to the fire for the debate on the “post-holiday glow” and whether or not it’s actually a myth.

The study goes on to suggest that frequent travellers also reported a number of other added benefits to going on holidays. Ten percent of respondents said they saw an overall improvement to the condition of their skin, while six percent reported weight loss as a result of their holiday. Of course the reasoning behind such findings usually depends on the type of holiday you’re taking, how much exercise you’ll be undertaking and also how much pasta you’ll be shovelling down your throat (when in Rome, ey?)

Interestingly, the study concluded that travelling can also lead to an increase in sex drive, a boost in confidence and feeling younger. As Dr Linda Papadopoulos, who assisted Expedia with the study, puts it, “you’re free to do as much or as little as you like, which in turn makes you feel more relaxed,” and maybe in turn, be open to more opportunities and be ready to act on your impulses.

Dr Papadopoulos goes as fas as to say that the benefits could be a result of a breaking of routine: “one of the best things about holidays is that by coming out of your routine you don’t have to worry about ‘must dos’ and can have new experiences on your terms”.

She went on to say, “as stress and anxiety decreases, mood increases – bringing many, often unexpected, positive benefits in how we perceive ourselves, motivation and productivity, and our general outlook on life.”

You don’t have to tell us twice.

Start planning your next adventure with Qantas – for your health.