There is a lot that can be learned from traveling, but for women traveling by themselves, there are even more benefits. Researchers at the Queensland University of Technology Business School in Australia conducted a study on the topic and sampled 24 female participants who have traveled solo for at least nine days. Many of these women admitted to traveling alone as a form of indulgence that helped enhance and feed their need for relaxation, freedom and discovery.
"One participant said: 'You discover a lot about yourself and you learn to be at peace with your inner monologue due to time spent alone and the challenges you must overcome alone'," Professor Bianchi, one of the authors of the study, revealed in a press release.
A previous study done in January also demonstrated how travel can help rewire the brain and improve cardiovascular health. In that research, the experts found out that women who took vacations regularly had less heart attack or coronary death risks.
Yet apart from these benefits, going on solo adventures can be an enriching adventure for women because:
1. You'll learn to be more open to strangers and discover that good people still exist.
"A lot of people just assume that solo travel is something they can't do, because maybe they're more introverted or they just feel like it's so overwhelming, and they see the media basically saying, 'Oh, it's so dangerous,'" said Amanda Williams, a travel blogger, according to Huffington Post. "But the truth is, when you go out there you realize the world is a lot less scary than movies and TV and news outlets would lead us to believe."
2. You'll make new friends, which is, in itself, a great experience. Some of them may become life-long friends.
3. Traveling alone is a stress-free trip, as there are no whining family members or hungry and tired friends to deal with. Your itinerary can be spontaneous, since you don't need to check with your companions every few hours.
4. You'll learn more about yourself as you discover new sights and people, and chances are, you will feel empowered to try new things in a foreign place. You will also learn to trust your instincts more, which should be a huge confidence booster.
5. This renewed self-confidence and the feeling of freedom will stay with you even after you've gone back home and returned to your normal routine. You might have learned new life skills that could influence your future decisions and goal achievements.
Before you book that trip, however, check out this infographic from Care2, which provides a good guide for women who plan on traveling solo:
