Solo Trippin’: 9 Lessons Learned from Travel as Self-Care
Guest Post by Vonita Vaughan
of Soul in Love With Travel
Hey boo! Amelia here, let’s talk *pours an old fashioned* I’ve long seen travel as a way to reset my mind and re-energise my creativity. After coming back from a trip, I always felt brighter. It was a few years until I realised that it wasn’t because I had ‘relaxed’ – nor was it just a result of having my mind expanded by new cultures & ideas. It was that I had otherwise neglected proper self-care. And travel had forced me to take a moment for my own wellbeing. Enter Soul in Love With Travel; Vonita and I met through blogging circles online, and I immediately loved her content. Her unique experience as a nurse and care-giver put a completely new spin on the other self-care stuff on the internet. Her writing is funny, relatable, and cheerfully wise. A collab seemed inevitable, and this guest post is the result. I feel like travel-as-self-care is a concept that’s about to pop, and Vonita is the perfect person to lead the charge. Enjoy!
Reflections of my past enlighten the journey ahead. The ability to lovingly look back on paths ventured during this lifetime is a testimony to my ever-evolving growth over the years.
Sounds good, right? Well, I have to tell you that it hasn’t been the easiest of journeys to get this self-love thing together. Just like any other disease, lack of self-love is a chronic condition that has to be treated consistently.
Low self-esteem requires intentional time and effort to remain in remission. If not, flare-ups are guaranteed to reoccur. Making time for me is just one of the self-care practices I use to show myself love.
Personally, self-love did not come instinctually nor swiftly. Prisms of distorted images had to be shattered and refracted to emanate an abundance of positive, balanced thinking.
Seeing myself through multiple lenses is just one of many lessons traveling alone has taught me. I believe that taking solo trips is one of the best ways I make time for myself.
It allows me space to fully appreciate the caring contributions I make to this world.
Reminiscing on my first solo trip, 9 years ago, sheds light on the humble beginnings of my current ‘travel as self-care’ practice.
In this post, I will share with you 9 lessons I’ve learned from solo trippin’ over the years.
The Decision to Plan My 1st Solo Trip
In 2010, I desperately needed to recover from the excitingly terrifying rollercoaster ride I call
While the experience profoundly influenced the person I am today, I still shudder when I flashback to some of those memories!
The continuous stress of being told that “your clinical decisions directly influence the life and death of patients” can and did paralyze me at times.
However, the beauty of being challenged to that capacity taught me to push beyond my fears to get that degree. It also wore me the f*@# out, LOL!
Newly graduated, I was 35, exhausted and ready for some well-deserved pampering.
Two days before Christmas, I gifted myself with a cheap mini-break to Florida’s only natural mineral springs spa: Safety Harbor Resort.
Twenty minutes away from Tampa, I anticipated 4 sun-drenched days away from the shivering cold of my home town, Baltimore, Maryland.
Once the trip was booked, the nervousness of traveling by myself intermingled with my enthusiasm for an overdue rub down.
I had never intentionally
“Did I choose the right resort?”
“Will I be bored all by myself?”
“What the heck is in Safety Harbor, FL anyway?”
“Can I have a good time without friends or family?”
“Is this traveling solo thing even a good idea?”
Eventually, the excitement of going someplace I’ve never been and doing something that I’ve never done cleared away the rest of my clouded thoughts.
The Cold Plunge into Solo Travel
By the time early January came around, I was ready for some heat and humidity. However, the weather was like, “Gurl…. I got other plans for you!”
No need to remove my winter coat. Tampa coldly greeted me with chilling gusts of wind as I walked out of the airport. It was just as cold there as it was in Baltimore!
Although I was thoroughly disappointed by unseasonably cold temps of 5 – 10 °C, I didn’t let that stop me from making the most out of the coins I spent on that trip.
Luckily, I had access to all the inside activities the resort had to offer: fitness classes, indoor pools, and workout equipment galore!
Instead of basking in the sun poolside, I spent most of my days detoxing in the steam room, cold plunge pool, and sauna.
The only other forms of heat I experienced that holiday was the warmth of my bed and the percolation of the hot tub. The king-sized bed was one of the most enjoyable things I had ever slept on! It was terrific to be enveloped in billowy clouds of comfort during those cold days and solo nights.
Pushing me even more out of my comfort zone, it was also my first time I stayed at a resort where it was commonplace to walk around in thick, comfy robes.
At first, I wasn’t too cool with stepping out of my room with little more than the garment I customarily reserved for walking around the house. But, by the end of the trip, you would have thought I was right at home!
It was breezy freeing to stroll about the property and not be self-conscious about what was going on underneath my cover-up.
The cherry on top of the trip was the Lavender Dreams spa treatment I received. Eighty minutes of being scrubbed, wrapped and rubbed in wild lavender scented oils left me feeling soft, silky, and sleepy.
There are few things better in life than being able to go directly to bed after being massaged into ultimate relaxation. And that’s precisely what I did!
While the trip was not what I envisioned it would be, it was exactly what I needed at the time. Prioritizing moments to get my personal needs met felt right. My first solo trip was the perfect opportunity to lounge around and rest, without interruption.
Lessons Learned from Traveling Alone
I didn’t realize at the time, but that vacation was all about self-care. I identified that I was burned out and I needed to spend some unadulterated, quality time to replenish and recharge myself.
While it took me years to really understand how vital planned self-care was to my life, I got there. I’m better able to recognize the signs of burnout and prevent it from occurring.
As promised, these are the 9 things I’ve learned from solo travel:
1. There is wisdom in watching your elders.
During that 1st solo trip, a “seasoned” citizen struck up a conversation with me about the benefits of utilizing the cold plunge pool at the resort.
I told her about this respiratory thing I had going on for several weeks. Somehow, she convinced me that doing several rounds of the steam room, along with the cold plunge pool, each day would knock it right out. By the time I checked out, I was fully recovered!
Our elders have a lot of information to share and the ones I’ve observed during my travels are pretty fearless. You don’t have to be in your 70s to be able to incorporate self-care and travel in your life right now.
2. Don’t trip when unexpected things happen.
As we all know, things don’t always go as planned in anything we do. I used to have such concrete thinking about things having to be a particular way to get them done.
But life doesn’t work like that. You have to be able to roll with the punches and make the best of situations as they occur.
When unexpected things happen on vacation, you have 2 options: sulk and be unhappy for the remainder of your trip, or figure out how to make the most out of your experience.
You have the opportunity to seize the moment and discover new activities or accommodations you would have never encountered had things gone according to your itinerary.
3. R-E-S-P-E-C-T your needs.
Holiday looks different for everyone. Some people believe that travel has to be a constant whirlwind of excursions, explorations, and parties, but it doesn’t. Travel is whatever you want it to be, especially when you travel solo.
Solo travel is an opportunity to really listen to your inner voice and give it what it needs. So, if it cries out to rest, then rest. If it screams, “I want to be the life of the party,” then go ham it up!
Whatever you do, find out what vacation means to you and take care of TCB. Listen to Aretha Franklin’s song and take care of the business of you! You are your most important customer.
4. I’m my own great company.
OMG! I cherish my alone time in my 40’s now more than I ever have in my life! Living with family is a beautiful thing, but, I must confess, it can be a pain in the ass every now and again.
Especially with multi-generations of people living under the same roof, it can be increasingly difficult to get alone time at home. There are days where you want to come home and walk around naked, but you can’t because Aunt Judy’s in the next room.
Taking a travel break from being someone’s spouse, partner, or parent can revitalize any type of relationship. Having some time away can create an abundance of gratitude for the personal connections in your life or allow you to re-evaluate the reasons certain people continue to be around.
Either way, I create planned alone time when I can for my own sanity and for the sanity of my loved ones that deal with me regularly.
5. Allow time for introspection.
On every solo trip I take, I carve out some time to inventory whatever’s going on in my life. Since I don’t have to worry about work or taking care of someone else, it’s the perfect space for honest self-assessment.
Being introspective during a solo trip can be useful for preparing for new beginnings, celebrating successes, and mourning losses. It’s also great for giving yourself the kick-in-the- butt you need and brainstorming comebacks from any setbacks you might have experienced.
6. Do something new, boo!
Travel is the opportunity to be open to trying something new. Regardless of whether you go to a different city 20 minutes away or halfway around the world, there is usually something available that you’ve never experienced.
Doing some research before your holiday can expose you to a new love that you never dreamed you would enjoy or become a hilarious story because you never want to do that thing ever again!
Taking a cooking class, learning a new dance, running a marathon for the 1st time – it can be as little or big as you choose it to be. Just give it a shot and dare to live a little adventurously!
7. Eat something amazing!
When I’m in vacation mode, I seek to eat something specific to the region that I can’t get at home. I love to discover new dishes that make my mouth happy and gives me a reason to come back to a destination!
Usually, I will ask for local recommendations for authentic regional foods because I adore spiciness. Some of the favourite tourist restaurants can bland down recipes, so they are more palatable to vacationers, but I need the real deal!
Joyful is the word I use to describe the instant I savour tantalizing and vibrant flavours that were strangers before our glorious introduction.
Can you tell I love food?
8. Plan your solo breaks in advance.
Anticipate burnout and plan your travel breaks in advance. Preparing for a solo vacation ahead of time allows you to save money and make a commitment to yourself to actually go on the trip.
I’m able to shop around for deals to make going on holiday by myself affordable, even if that means just getting a hotel room for the weekend in my hometown.
BTW – family vacations do not count if you are the primary caregiver. You are so busy making sure that everyone enjoys the trip, that it’s just more work for you. A vacation from the vacation will be a necessity afterward!
9. I’m worth it!
The most important lesson of all! Life is so short. You don’t need to wait for family or friends to explore the world. As hard as I work, I deserve to have a vacation on my own terms to do whatever I want. So do you!
Are there other things you could use the money for? Yes.
Can it be cheaper to travel with people you know? Absolutely!
But how often do you get the chance to not compromise your desires for the happiness of others? Really think about that.
Now I know for some of you, it’s counterintuitive to prioritize your needs before the service of others, but you can’t self-sacrifice to the point of emptiness. You have to find ways to replenish all the love and caring you breathe into the universe, and invest some love in you.
If cost – or learning to be comfortable spending time by yourself – are issues, start off with a staycation and explore your city like a tourist. Then expand to a nearby town for your next venture out.
Before you know it, you’ll be laying on the beach of a tropical island, sipping on a fruity drink as you watch the bluest of seas splash against the shore.
Is Solo Travel as Self-Care for You?
Only you can answer that. For me, self-care via solo travel reminds me to honor my needs, wants, and desires.
By planning ahead, it ensures that I create breaks for myself to have individual retreats to reflect on my professional, personal and emotional progress.
Each time I step on a plane by myself, my confidence is fortified, and I reflect self-love as the exquisite, intelligent, courageous woman I am.
Sound good, right? It sure is!
Let us know what your thoughts on solo travel as self-care are in the comments below. Be sure to follow Vonita’s blog, and share this on social to spread the word about taking care of yourself!
Vonita Vaughan is the founder and editor of “Soul in Love with Travel,” a travel and wellness blog focused on encouraging caregivers to take travel breaks.
As a nurse that has specialized in the areas of Maternal-Child Health, Perinatal Case Management, Psychiatry and Substance Abuse Care Coordination, she passionately advocates for caregivers by emphasizing the importance of self-care and demonstrating the affordability of scheduled travel breaks.
Originally from Baltimore, MD, her wanderlust was initially ignited by her love affair with the country of Jamaica and she now seeks to inspire people who live in urban communities to travel internationally.
Vonita is also a recovering ex-marathoner that finished her 6th marathon (Chicago) in 2017.
Amelia, I love this article about self-care. As woman, we worry more about others before ourselves. I started working out for myself 2 years ago and never felt better. Once in a while I get a deep hot stone massage which has to be the greatest, most relaxing massage invented. I look forward to reading more of your posts. One thing I found on your site is to “read more” of this article, there is no link. I had to click on the photo to get to the post. Not sure if this was your intention, but my thought is, to make it easier to get to the article, there should be a link at the point of “read more”. Keep up the good work!!
Hi Renee! Yeah Vonita is an incredible blogger and I’ve learnt so much from working with her. She talks about an incredible mix of self care and travel over on her site Soul In Love With Travel, she’s also a member of SSB, seeing what she’s achieved has been a real inspiration for me. As it always is when we follow along with other members of our community! Mmm I’ve always wanted to try a deep hot stone massage, my Mum reckons it’s incredible! Definitely head over to http://soulinlovewithtravel.com if you are into the mix of self-care and travel. Vonita is a registered nurse too, and all around wise woman, you’ll dig her whole catalogue if you liked this one 😀
Thanks for the advice on the ‘read more’ thing. I will try fix that up! And really appreciate you taking the time to comment!