8 reasons travel keeps you young in your 60s

There is a saying that you use travel to reinvent yourself, find joy in everyday life and find peace in exploration.Admittedly, those are very plausible reasons, but I’ll add to stay young Also on the list.

Through my travels, I have found ways to stay youthful as I age. Whether you’re traveling with other people or traveling alone, these 8 travel benefits will keep your mind and body young.

1. Stimulate your brain

Traveling is a great way to stimulate my brain. From the moment I start planning my trip, to deciding what to bring, to arriving at my foreign destination, my brain is off autopilot and on a path of discovery.

After a 23-hour flight from Australia, we arrived at Fiumicino Airport in Rome. It was a solo trip with no fixed schedule. I didn’t have to think much during the flight, but suddenly I had to turn my head on. Where is the train to the city? Can I buy my ticket at the vending machine or do I have to buy it at the ticket window? Can you memorize a few Italian phrases that I know? ?

It may sound daunting, but this kind of stimulation slows down brain aging and cognitive decline. If you don’t stretch or challenge yourself, you will age faster mentally.

2. Find a way for occasional exercise

I know that physical activity is important for health, especially as we age. It can prevent or delay health problems that occur later in life.

Travel provides opportunities for incidental exercise. Take a bike tour, climb the stairs to the observatory, or go window shopping. I’m addicted to new surroundings, so none of this feels like exercise when I’m traveling.

A bus tour visited Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Dolomites region of the Italian Alps. It is a world-famous ski resort, but I went there in midsummer. After hours of sitting on the couch, Walking had the perfect opportunity to put on his shoes and stretch his legs in a pristine location.

A light breeze reddened my nose and watered my eyes, quickening my steps and taking in the pine-scented fresh air as I walked along the undulating streets.

Exercise while traveling doesn’t have to be heart-pounding. Simply keeping our bodies mobile and flexible has the advantage of allowing us to move comfortably for long periods of time.

3. Connect with nature and improve your mental health

In my home in South Australia, I am lucky to be surrounded by nature. I live near the beach and a kangaroo she is 800 m (0.5 miles) away freely grazing. Nature and fresh air are important to me.

As much as I love air travel, airports and cities, travel always involves spending time in nature and outdoors. Walking barefoot on the beach, interacting with wildlife in the countryside, all the time spent in the natural environment improves my mental health.

While visiting Dubrovnik, Croatia on a cruise, I went out for a walk and lunch with a group of friends. We walked the perimeter walls of the historic Old Town, marveling at the terracotta roofs against the turquoise backdrop of the Adriatic Sea. Diners at bustling cafés sought shade from umbrellas as the June sun radiated heat from ancient Baroque buildings.

The glamour of the sparkling sea was irresistible to our hot, sweaty bodies, and we immediately dove in and improvised swims in the pleasantly cool water. After sharing the ship with 3,300 people, this peaceful yet refreshing connection to nature was a welcome start.

4. Be prepared to make new friends

I don’t just thrive on my connection with nature. I also value human connections, especially when traveling. Learning about its inhabitants is a great way to understand a place better.

My life has been enriched by both locals and other tourists I met during my travels.It adds another level of enjoyment. It’s incredibly fulfilling to have other people interested and interested in my story.

When my partner and I rented a campervan and traveled through Tasmania, we met two couples in Hobart. We traveled with her for 3 days, got to know them and enjoyed their company so much that we had a reunion a year later. Friendship and laughter were a great influence in creating an unforgettable holiday.

As humans, we have a fundamental need to connect with each other, and nurtured minds are young minds.

5. Never underestimate happiness and laughter

Laughter has many benefits, such as reducing stress and depression while improving memory and boosting immunity. That’s why I try to look on the bright side when I travel. It always is, especially when things go wrong.

Lost reservations at the hotel we arrived at, luggage misplaced on a flight from Los Angeles to Brisbane, tours canceled at the last minute, and it rained all our beach vacations.

Getting angry or frustrated doesn’t change the result. You can find your funny side or your lighthearted side. And regardless of age, a happy, smiling face always trumps an angry or frustrated face.

6. Feel youthful and vibrant with an awakened feeling

My senses were pleasantly stimulated after a day spent wandering the streets of Rome. Everything around me was full of energy: conversations in poetic language, the splashes of gorgeous fountains, the smell of freshly brewed coffee.

With outdoor tables in Piazza Navona, the atmosphere of the restaurant was lively. Classical melodies of violin and piano accordion wafted through the sun-drenched square, and the sounds of buskers mingled with the clink of glasses and cutlery, and the merry chatter. I felt my face heat up.The pleasant effect of sunshine and white wine, and the saltiness of seafood Gnocchi de Pescatore Delighted my taste buds.

Awakening your senses is the perfect way to feel youthful and alive.

7. Give yourself time to embrace what brings you joy

I discovered my passion for writing and photography on my first solo trip abroad. My relationship was falling apart at the time, so I found solace in journaling on my iPad.

I sat alone at a bar in Rapallo, Italian Riviera, and my iPad was nearby. Thunder, lightning and heavy rain crashed outside as Andrea Bocelli played through the speakers. I closed my eyes and lost myself in his voice. It stirred something inside as tears leaked from my eyes and tickled my cheeks. More tears followed, like a toxic poultice. Putting those thoughts down in words was therapeutic.

Writing is now part of my life and has further fueled my passion for food and wine. Traveling is the ideal time to focus on what brings me joy. I try to add that big slice to my itinerary to fully satisfy my passion.

8. Appreciate and Appreciate Cultural Differences

I try not to get bogged down in “comparisons” when traveling. Our lifestyles are diverse, our cuisine is rich, and our countryside is diverse. These things are neither good nor bad. cannot be compared. They are simply different.

When I embrace my differences and am grateful for the opportunity to witness them, I never have a bad experience.

How I perceive life, how I act, and how I spend my time define life’s stages more than the candles on the cake.

Spring is at your feet as you plan your trip. It’s a feeling you never want to lose, and I’m sure we all share. It is our responsibility to keep our minds young, healthy and active so that we can enjoy our trip as long as possible.