People Who Travel Alone .

Traveling alone reduces stress and increases self-awareness.

Make no mistake, if you travel alone, there will be times you feel extremely lonely.

Even if you’re completely surrounded by people, loneliness can creep in — particularly if you’re in a place where no one speaks your native tongue and communication is difficult.

But the experience will also help you understand the important distinction between being alone and feeling alone.

Solitude and loneliness are not one in the same. Loneliness increases feelings of isolation and depletes the spirit. Solitude increases self-awareness and ultimately makes us feel more connected with the world. We are never truly alone, but it’s difficult to recognize this without time to reflect on it.

Humans are social creatures; we wouldn’t survive without the presence of other people. In seeking out company, however, we often fail to recognize the benefits of solitude.

Life is full of distractions, and it’s difficult to live in the moment. We need time to sit with our thoughts and process it all.

Reflection is vital to our mental health, and it’s much easier when we’re separate from others.

Research shows that mindfulness meditation, or the practice of focusing intently on the present, can decrease anxiety significantly as it helps reduce the stress hormone, cortisol.

Traveling alone provides for this type of benevolent reflection.

The heightened awareness that accompanies this form of travel, combined with the excitement of new experiences, unconsciously focuses your mind on the present.

In turn, you begin to let go of the past, and the pain and regrets that often come with it.

At the same time, you stop worrying so much about the future.

In other words, solo travel helps free your mind and teaches you to celebrate each and every breath.