Travelling can be scary and stressful in general, so when I tell you that you should travel alone at least ONCE in your life, you must be reading this and thinking that I’m crazy. I was the same way, until I booked that one-way flight and travelled across the Atlantic to backpack multiple countries in Europe solo.
I travelled solo at twenty-one years old, I am now twenty-three and I swear on my parent’s lives it was THE best decision I made, and here are ten reasons why you should venture out into the unknown and take that leap of faith.
1: Cross It Off Your Bucket List
I know somewhere deep in your nightstand or closet there is a crumpled-up piece of paper of all the places and things you’d like to see. Stop making excuses as to why you can’t and start making reasons as to why you should. If you have a lifetime goal of seeing the Aurora Borealis or scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef, don’t wait just go and do it!
2: You Are Great Company
Despite what you may hear, travelling alone is not scary and can benefit you in the long-run. I used to need the company of others and I never enjoyed being alone, until I absolutely had to be. But, I realized in Europe that I am great company. Since then, I crave to be alone. Being by yourself is not lonely. It’s a breath of fresh air to just be one with your thoughts and to think for yourself, to just sit back and relax.
3: Make Lifelong Friends
Just because you are travelling alone, doesn’t mean you ARE alone. Ironically enough, travelling solo made me an extroverted person. The best thing about hostels, besides them being cheap, is the many friends you will meet from all over the world. The friendships I formed overseas have stayed with me since then and I am still in touch with all the travel friends I made. The friendships you make along the way will only make your trip that much better, and now you have an excuse to travel the world more since you have friends to visit.
4: Disconnect From Social Media
Technology has some wonderful benefits, and I’ve been a culprit of being on my phone more than enjoying the moment. I believe that a deep cleanse from social media is necessary from time to time. Stop worrying about the FOMO and enjoy what is right in front of you. Be in the moment. Experiences will never repeat twice, so don’t get TOO caught up in taking the perfect picture-worthy Instagram picture. When you enjoy life more, you feel more connected to the world and your surroundings.
5: Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone
You’re probably thinking, travelling alone is me stepping out of my comfort zone, and this is true. But, take it to the next level. You’ve become so used to an every day routine, that even the smallest of things may seem abnormal or unusual to you. Just because it may seem crazy or unfamiliar, should be more reason why you should do it.
Go cliff jumping, go snorkeling, take that Gondola ride by yourself, have that extra glass of wine – you deserve it! When you start to take more risks, life will reward you in ways that can’t be put into words.
6: Get Lost And Find Yourself
One thing you can do when you step out of your comfort zone, is allowing yourself to get lost in the city. Forget the GPS and the old-school maps and just explore. When you do this and let your feet take you where they want to go, you will discover such amazing things. That’s what happened to me in Prague, and I stumbled upon a gorgeous park with beautiful views of the city and a left down a street in Rome, instead of a right led me to an amazing gelato place. When you get lost, your mind and natural instincts will kick in and when you don’t think, you’ll find yourself knowing the exact way back – and in the process you find yourself.
7: Fall In Love With Yourself
A concept we all struggle with, I know. But, how can you love another person, if you don’t love yourself, flaws and all. This was a battle I was constantly facing, even as I was in a relationship while travelling. Being in Europe changed my perspective on many things, one of those categories being myself and how I viewed others in my life. I altered my expectations and changed my perception. I hadn’t realized before that my deciding to travel solo to Europe was me taking control of my life and putting myself first for once.
Being 23, looking back on all the decisions in my life, backpacking Europe is still to this day THE greatest decision I have made in my life. The feeling is unlike no other, and the best thing I took back with me from that trip.
8: Confidence Is Sexy
Nothing is sexier than a person who knows who they are and what they want. Travelling alone makes you independent and fearless. Things you normally wouldn’t do comes as second nature to you now. You don’t think twice about your decisions, you just make them because you’re confident in them.
Travelling alone made me stronger, smarter and confident. You learn not to second guess yourself, you learn that your decisions are your decisions because no one is there to hold your hand. You feel empowered by it all. And in the end, it helps set you up for a life of adulthood.
9: Appreciate Other Cultures And History
One thing I have gained in the three years I have been travelling, is that you can’t live a happy and fulfilling life, until you learn to appreciate other cultures, history and people. I met more friendly strangers in other parts of the world, than I did in my own country. By respecting other cultures, you gain a deeper connection to the country itself and the locals making your trip that much more enriching.
Broaden your horizons – eat a local dish, try out a custom of that particular country, attempt to speak their language, it’ll making your travelling experience more enlightening.
10: You’ll Have A Killer Story
No matter where you end up going on your solo adventure, I will tell you this – you will come back with one hell of a story. You did it, you did what you set out to do and you came back a different and better person because of it. You took that leap of faith and explored a different part of the world and you have the many Instagram photos and Facebook posts to prove it. I know I do.
So, do it! Book that flight, make that cross-country road trip, cross that item off your bucket list and live your life!
