5 Surprising Benefits of World Travel That Boost Your Creativity
I talk about the benefits of world travel all the time.
But I talk about how it benefits your creativity even more!
‘Travel makes you more creative’
‘You can be extra creative on the road“
Yada yada yada!
I’m like a broken record…or an un-rewound VHS from Blockbuster. 😬
But would I be here trying to empower you – my fellow creatives – through adventure if I didn’t absolutely believe in the mind-blowing benefits of travelling?
Hell nah!
Because A) Ain’t nobody got time for that.
And B) Please refer to point A.
I do this because there are genuinely so many creative benefits to world travel.
So let me break it down for you.
1) Travel Makes us More Open
Travel makes us more open to new experiences and cultures, and this massively changes our core values;
We value the journey over the destination
It makes us appreciate the journey as much – if not more – than the destination itself.
This love of the stories, #TravelFails, and crazy sh*t that happens in pursuit of adventure is a larger lesson in making sure that, whatever we do in life, we love the process – not just the end result.
We see life through many lenses
It makes us embrace the idea that our own way of living isn’t the only way. And that all aspects of life can be viewed from multiple perspectives.
Example:
In Japan, Kintsugi is a method of repairing broken pottery with gold. Showing that the break (and its repair) are part of the item’s identity. In other cultures, the break would be considered a flaw and it would be thrown away, or its repair hidden.
We value experiences over stuff
Travel makes us value experiences over stuff.
Money matters – anyone who’s ever not had a lot of it knows that – but while we all gotta eat and buy those Yeezys pay the bills, it ain’t everything.
Creatives who value experiences over income are more likely to say ‘boy, bye’ to a higher paying career path, and pursue what they love.
And let’s be real, no matter how expensive an adventure or experience is, it’s STILL cheaper than a mortgage! Meaning you can have your smashed-avo-on-toast and eat it too.
Did you know?
According to Culture Trip’s Cultural Mindset Study:
43% of people save their money to travel more often, and 18% save to take more luxurious trips. But only 13% save for a house deposit.
Where my fellow millennials at? 🙋🥑
2) It Clears Our Minds
It’s easy for creatives to get stuck in a rut, especially if you’re deep in your routine, slugging away at your ‘day job’…
…you know, that thing we do while pursing the thing we actually like?
Worse still, our ruts usually come in the form of creative blocks!
One of the benefits of world travel is that it clears our mind. Breaking us out of our routine and away from the daily distractions / stresses of life.
This allows us to see the bigger picture, notice things we find interesting or meaningful, and immerse ourselves in a new way of life.
When it comes to making art, getting outside your own head can be the thing that kickstarts a creative frenzy.
3) It Makes us Better Problem Solvers
A huge benefit of travel for creatives is that it makes us more confident problem solvers.
Exposed to fresh sights, sounds, and experiences, we become even more unconventional in our thinking. Giving our brains the chance to act differently.
But better yet, travel actually helps us see some problems as opportunities.
Get lost? Stumble upon something cool.
Take the wrong bus? At least the views are gorgeous.
Can’t read the menu? Pick something randomly or ask for their recommendation, there’s a 90% chance it’ll be delicious-
-and 10% chance it might be offal 🤢
Being a good problem solver is an invaluable asset to any creative. But being able to embrace problems and see them as happy accidents? Priceless.
4) Travel Rewires Our Brain
Immersing ourselves in new cultures expands our cognitive flexibility.
That’s a fancy-shmancy term for our ability to jump between different ideas, or make unusual connections between things. And it’s one of the most incredible benefits of world travel for creatives.
This cognitive flexibility is expressed in a few ways;
Through out-of-the-box thinking
Like I always say;
It’s hard to be a good traveller and a d*ckhead at the same time.
Or as Mark Twain slightly more eloquently said;
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow–mindedness
When we travel, we see that people are basically the same no matter where they’re from, and so become less suspicious of the unknown. Eliminating the kind of preconceived ideas which hinder out-of-the-box creative thinking.
Through a strengthened sense of self
Creatives who are comfortable around different cultures, or who actually integrate aspects of these cultures into their lives, are far more likely to have a strong sense of self. and be confident in their identity.
Through innovation
When we’re immersed in a different way of life – new tastes, sights, sounds, mindsets, philosophies – it ignites our cultural curiosity. This curiosity makes us more innovative, due to a wide and unconstrained view of the world.
“When in Rome, do as the Roman’s do”
You’ve heard this a billion times for good reason. This age-old saying is all about immersing yourself in the culture and customs of the place you’re visiting.
5) We Express Ourselves Differently
If you’ve ever done any world travel at all, you’ll relate to this on a spiritual level;
Dealing with language barriers in other countries forces us to express ourselves like idiots differently. Because we’re often thrown into situations where we have to step out of our comfort zone, and communicate in new ways.
Kinda like a supercharged game of real-life charades.
No artistic work is ever ‘original’, it’s the way we express it which is unique. So the benefit of world travel on a creative’s sense of expression is one you can’t underestimate.
Recap: The 5 Creative Benefits of World Travel.
Makes us more open
Clears our minds
Makes us better problem solvers
Rewires our brain
Makes us express ourselves differently.
Well, did I miss anything? What’s one of your favourite benefits of world travel for creativity? Let me know!
I hope this inspires you to book that trip and go.
Click below and share with a friend who needs a kick in the butt creative inspiration.
Amelia x
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