Initially, I was intimidated by the idea of traveling alone. What if something went wrong, and I didn’t have anyone with me to help me out? How was I going to share my experience with other people? Would I have anyone to talk to? Despite all of my nagging doubts, I went ahead and did it anyway. I couldn’t be more grateful that I did. If you’ve never taken a solo trip, it may be time for you to start flirting with the idea – you won’t regret it.
[tweetthis]How many #women travel alone? Here’s how @rachelj423 overcame fear of #traveling. #SoloTraveler[/tweetthis]
I Got Away from Everything and Everyone
I had no idea how stressed out I was about everything until it was no longer there for me to worry about. When the negative influencers in my life where gone and I didn’t have a giant stack of work on my desk every day, I had no reason to freak out. At first it was weird, but by the end of the second night, I was overwhelmingly excited that I had nothing to dread when I woke up in the morning.
I was completely burned out at my job. I had no clue what a toll it was taking on me, and I didn’t realize that I had become so pessimistic about everything. It was changing my identity for the worse. I needed that time to step away and re-evaluate how I felt. When I got back, I talked to my boss about it. I realized I needed a better work-life balance, and she agreed. My home life is now better because of my one solo trip.
I Felt Socially Confident for the First Time in a Long Time
I’m not usually one to branch out socially. I have a few girlfriends, and we get together once in a while to talk about how things have been going in our lives. When I took a multi-day cruise out of Melbourne, I suddenly found myself stuck on a cruise ship with a huge group of people I didn’t know. I worked up the courage to go down for a drink, and I was surprised at how easy it was to talk to other people.
Everyone on the cruise was having a good time, and when everyone is in a great mood, it’s easy to make friends. I enjoyed cocktails with a woman vacationing with some of her coworkers, and they worked in a similar industry to me. We had a lot to talk about, and we were able to exchange opinions. I still talk to that woman and her coworkers, and we’re great long distance friends.
I Was Completely In Control, and I Did It All Myself
Unless you’ve gone out on your own and done something completely independently, you have no idea what a positive affect it can have on your self worth. I didn’t know I was feeling that low about myself until I got home, and the realization sank in that I was able to explore the world, meet people, and make important decisions without input from anyone else. My self esteem shot up exponentially. If I can plan a trip and survive alone for two whole weeks, I’m certainly fit for a managerial role at my office. I came home feeling rewarded in so many ways.
Do it. If you’re wondering whether or not you should experience a new part of the world by yourself, the answer is yes. If you have the money to spend and enough unused vacation time, take yourself on a personal retreat. It’s better than any spa day in the world.
About Author: Rachel Jackson is a mother of 2 beautiful boys. She loves to hike and write about travelling, education and healthy lifestyle. She works for NYBizDb – an online resource of relevant business information.
