Adopting This Mental Approach Could Prevent Travelers from Exhaustion during Vacations
Traveling internationally can open up a world of possibilities, offering freedom, adventure, and a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in diverse cultures. However, the fast-paced travel schedule that many embark on can lead to travel burnout, as author Amanda Morgan discovered during her time as a flight attendant.
Amanda, who started her career at 24 with the goal of achieving the "30 by 30" milestone — visiting 30 countries before turning 30 — found herself rushing from one destination to another, often missing out on the authentic experiences that travel has to offer.
But things changed when Amanda shifted her focus from quantity to quality. She began to embrace the concept of slow travel, a growing immersive style of vacation that encourages travelers to connect with the people and places they visit, rather than overstuffing their itinerary with tourist hotspots.
Slow travel is all about moving at a relaxed pace and spending extended time in each destination to fully explore and immerse oneself in the local culture, environment, and community. Instead of rushing through many places quickly, slow travelers focus on depth over breadth, aiming for meaningful, mindful experiences and connections with local people and traditions.
This approach to travel allows tourists to connect more deeply and authentically with local cultures by visiting markets, attending events, eating local cuisine, and engaging beyond surface-level sightseeing. It also offers opportunities to rent an affordable vacation home in a small village, visit local cafes, study a new language, or take a cooking class.
Moreover, slow travel fosters relaxation and genuine discovery, offering a stress-free alternative to checklist-driven tourism. By staying longer in one place, travelers can build authentic relationships and participate actively in the communities they visit, sometimes through learning local crafts or volunteering.
Slow travel also encourages mindfulness and presentness during travels, allowing travelers to appreciate moments of spontaneity and the environment itself. It's a chance to slow down, stop and smell the roses, and truly experience the world around them.
According to a study by the Pew Research Center, this shift in focus from quantity of destinations to quality of experiences resonates with many travelers. Roughly 34% of people have visited between one and five countries, while only 13% have visited more than 10.
International trips don't have to be expensive either. Budget airlines and volunteering opportunities can make travel more affordable, allowing more people to experience different cultures in an intimate way and broaden their worldview.
Traveling internationally is more than just visiting tourist attractions; it's about experiencing different cultures in a meaningful way. By embracing slow travel, travelers can have a more enriching experience, shifting their mindset to quality over quantity and discovering hidden gems around the world waiting to be explored.
Embracing the concept of slow travel, Amanda started to prioritize quality over quantity, immersing herself in local cultures rather than overstuffing her itinerary with tourist hotspots. This lifestyle of slow travel, promoting extended stays and authentic connections, aligns with sustainable living, encouraging travelers to engage with home-and-garden and outdoor-living in the countries they visit.
