So you just got dumped. And now you’re sitting around wallowing in your grief and shoving ice cream in your mouth. You don’t need anyone to tell you that this isn’t a healthy way to deal with this. But you might need a nudge to do something that is a good way to get over your heartbreak.
The answer lies in travel. It’s the best way to get away from everything that reminds you of the person you’re missing. Their hoodie is still draped on your couch and the book you borrowed from them is sitting on your nightstand. You’re not going to do yourself any good sitting there and looking at all that stuff. Here’s why traveling is a great remedy for post-breakup blues.
Get Away From Familiar Things
Chances are, a lot of things around you are going to remind you of your ex. Your apartment, the restaurants where you went to eat, the movie theater you used to frequent—there’s no escape. Traveling gives you a chance to get away from all the reminders and to explore new things.
Don’t have a lot of money to travel somewhere far away? Airfare, hotels and rental cars are all expensive, and it’s always a good idea to support the local economy. Try taking a day trip close to your home or somewhere in your state that you’ve never seen before. You’ll still get to have a getaway without the extreme costs.
Fill Your Mind With New Info
There are a lot of memories that you’re not going to want to think of right now. Why not put those out of your mind with new info about all the cool things you see and do?
Road Scholar offers a ton of programs all over the world. On their site you can choose what you want to learn more about, and then a country or a state that provides that. Choose something that you’ve always wanted to do in a place you’ve always wanted to go, and immerse yourself in learning all about that instead of thinking about the ex.
Even if you don’t want to choose a specific program or place, almost every place has some sort of history, art or science museum to go and lose yourself in.
Meet New People
Traveling can be a great excuse to meet some new people and make friends. Learning about them and their culture and keeping up a conversation can help distract you from the breakup. Plus, locals are always the greatest way to learn more about a place. Even if you’re just doing a day trip, they’ll know the best restaurants to go to and the best sites to see.
It’s nerve-wracking to go to a new place by yourself, but this can be a great chance to become more outgoing and talk to some people you never would have met otherwise.
Learn About Yourself
If you travel alone, you’re forced to rely on yourself and no one else. You’ve just spent months identifying yourself as a companion to your significant other. Trust yourself to make decisions and try new things. Maybe there’s something you’ve always wanted to do that your ex never wanted to try. Now’s your chance to do that.
Any memories you make on this trip will be yours, and yours alone. You won’t look back on the experience with pain later because it’s something you did independently. They’re your lessons you’re learning and your experiences that you’ll get to remember.
Fall In Love Again
Traveling gives you a chance to immerse yourself in new culture or place…and fall in love with it. You can heal while experiencing beautiful places and things. It’ll take you out of your comfort zone a bit, but pushing yourself opens your eyes to so many new things. Take this opportunity to fall in love with new places and experiences. The memories you make can’t come back and hurt you.
The memories you make when traveling are worth so much more than romances that didn’t last. Get up off your couch, put the ice cream back in the freezer, and start exploring!
