The World Health Organisation (WHO) describes mental health as “a state of well-being in which an individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and can make a contribution to his or her community.” Clearly, mental health is integral to having a fulfilling life.

Mental illnesses can range from less common conditions, like bipolar disorder, to more common ones like depression and anxiety. The NHS in the UK reports that 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 10 children experience mental illness during their lifetime. Moreover, it has been argued that mental illness can lead to physical illness. However, the significance of mental health is still mistakenly overlooked in many societies. Mental health is as important as physical health and requires nurturing and active maintenance.

Travel is a great way to maintain mental well-being, and, by extension, it contributes to a happier and more fulfilling life. So, here are 9 reasons why travel is good for your mental health.

1. Travel allows you to try new things and meet new people, helping you combat monotony. Travel connects people and provides opportunities to learn about new and different cultures, which can help increase your empathy towards others. It can also help improve your overall tolerance, reduce biases and even decrease frustration.

2. Activities like walking, hiking, and skiing in scenic areas can help you become more hopeful. A 2020 study found that people who were consciously aware of the vistas and objects around them on a walk reported being more hopeful and upbeat than other walkers. What could be better than enjoying the wonderful scenery of a new destination on a hiking route or while skiing down a beautiful slope?

3. Travel is great for relieving stress and improving your general outlook on life. According to a 2013 study with people aged 25 to 70+, 80% of respondents said travel improves their general mood and outlook on life with 75% of respondents also saying travel helps them reduce stress.

4. Travel helps your brain function better and boosts creativity. Immersing yourself in new cultures increases your mind’s ability to move between different ideas, think more deeply, and integrate thoughts. “Foreign experiences increase cognitive flexibility and depth and integrativeness of thought,” says Adam Galinsky, a professor and author of numerous studies on the connection between creativity and international travel.

5. Time away from work can increase your energy and productivity at work. A Harvard Business Review study of over 400 travellers found that 94% of respondents had as much or more energy after coming back from a good trip. So, book that holiday and crush your work goals when you return!

6. Taking a trip helps you do good, which helps you feel good. Some evidence suggests that helping others can promote physiological changes in the brain linked with happiness. Spending money during your holidays in restaurants, attractions and even locally made souvenirs helps support the 330 million people who rely on the sector for their livelihoods. You can also help by volunteering with a reputable local organisation!

7. A wellness trip can contribute to better mental health. On a wellness retreat focused on practices like yoga, meditation, and mindfulness, you can learn skills that you can bring home to help you keep up a regular wellness routine. This routine will be key to maintaining more robust mental health. Can’t you just imagine yourself learning centuries-old yoga practices on an idyllic beach?

8. Doing something you enjoy makes you happy. Pull out that bucket list and see what you still need to check off. By doing something you enjoy, you perform necessary self-care and contribute to your own happiness.

9. Travelling with loved ones helps meet your needs for love and belonging. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs identifies love and belonging as key psychological human needs. Sharing your amazing travel adventures with loved ones helps enhance your connection with them while intensifying feelings of love, belonging, and fulfilment. Think of a family holiday on a beautiful island or a trip to eating all sorts of delicious food with your best friend.

Tourists have a responsibility to ensure they comply with sustainable practices wherever they travel. Some of these include buying local products, opting for ecofriendly accommodation and travelling in local transport

Sustainable tourism is gaining steam as global efforts to combat greenhouse gas emissions are ramped up. Tourists are increasingly calling for planet-friendly initiatives and actions, and practising responsible tourism when they travel. To this end, they need to make informed decisions before embarking on their journeys.

Here are 10 ideas that can pave the way for a sustainable and fulfilling travel experience.

The Right Destination Matters

Selecting an appropriate destination is of utmost importance when choosing to travel sustainably. Opting for local adventures, or ‘microadventures’ as coined by the adventurer and author Alastair Humphreys, means exploring lesser-known areas of your own neighbourhood or visiting museums within your city.

Engaging in activities closer to home minimises carbon dioxide emissions and offers a sense of exploration and discovery. If you desire a more distant getaway, consider embarking on a short road trip to a nearby beach or forest.

Opt For Sustainable Places

When selecting your travel destination, prioritise the regions and areas that embrace planet-friendly and sustainable practices. Look for places that demonstrate a commitment to preserving natural resources, protecting local communities and heritage, and reducing energy consumption. Opting for destinations with established governing bodies dedicated to managing sustainability ensures that your visit contributes positively to the environment and supports responsible tourism practices.

Avoid Travelling During Peak Season

Planning your trip during off-peak months is advisable when visiting bustling and popular cities. You can avoid the peak season crowds and enjoy a more relaxed and authentic experience. Consider extending your stay to immerse yourself further in the local culture and explore lesser-known attractions.

Travel To Destinations Needing Recovery

Travel and tourism play a crucial role in revitalising areas affected by natural disasters. Engaging in volunteer work for environmental and social projects can contribute to rebuilding devastated communities. Travellers can assist in the recovery process by travelling to destinations needing economic help but should first conduct due diligence to understand whether their arrival will be welcomed or resented by local communities.

Choose Ecofriendly Stays

When selecting accommodation, prioritise ecofriendly options such as certified green hotels or locally-owned guesthouses. Seek tour operators and travel agencies that actively promote sustainable tourism and are committed to community development.

Commute Wisely

Opt for bike or walking tours to explore your destination. If you are near a body of water, choose sailing over engine powered boats. Consider electric vehicles or select the smallest rental vehicle that accommodates your family’s needs. Utilise public transport whenever possible as an ecofriendly option and an opportunity to connect with local people.

Pack Smartly

Packing smart is crucial to reducing your environmental footprint and simplifying your travel experience. Opt for biodegradable shampoos, laundry bars, and reef-safe sunscreen to minimise ecological harm. Bringing your own water bottle and reusable cutlery helps reduce your reliance on single-use items, thus reducing plastic consumption.

Buy Local As Much As Possible

Support local businesses by patronising them during your travels. Seek out establishments that offer unique products and support the local economy. Be mindful of items that contain animal products, especially when their origin is uncertain.

Eat Thoughtfully

Making thoughtful choices about your diet can contribute to a sustainable and environmentally-friendly lifestyle, whether at home or while travelling. Opting for a vegetarian or vegan diet is an excellent way to reduce your ecological footprint. If you still want to consume non-vegetarian products, consider eating chickens raised in healthy pastures and sustainably-sourced seafood. However, if you are open to eliminating meat and dairy entirely, tofu and nuts are one of the most sustainable alternatives.

Choose Local Outfitters That Care For The Planet

Whether you choose a wildlife safari or go snorkelling and scuba diving, book your tour with a local company that is accredited with or adheres to the standards of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. Refuse tour operators who promise hands-on engagement with wild animals. Give your money to tour operators who prioritise community-based tourism and take an active role in conserving the region’s biodiversity. Do your research first and then ask local community members about such travel outfitters.

Ironically, the City of Light doesn’t want you to share its sparkle.

Once the sun sets over Paris, the Eiffel Tower is lit in a dazzling display of 20,000 sparkling lights until 1 a.m. The show, which occurs nightly at the famous landmark, is not only a perfect calling card for the City of Light, but also a social media gold mine, attracting camera phones like moths to a flame. But every person who’s posted a sparkling Boomerang to Instagram probably doesn’t know that they’ve actually broken the law.

Mais oui! All those Instagram images, Facebook albums, and Pinterest pics showcasing the Eiffel Tower under the night stars are actually illegal. It all comes down to good old-fashioned copyright law which states that monuments in Europe are protected for the lifespan of the work’s legal creator, plus 70 years. So while the Eiffel Tower itself, the creator of which died in 1923, is fair game, the light show, created in 1985, is still protected work.

As Snopes explained, “Under European copyright law, people cannot sell photographs of copyrighted works, upload them to stock photo websites, publish them in magazines, or — what affects most tourists — post them to social media.”

Snopes noted that the Eiffel Tower itself is in the public domain, meaning that during daylight hours it’s totally legal for you to share as many photos as you’d like.

And while it’s not technically illegal for you to take photos of the monument day or night, you could, in theory, be hit with a cease and desist if you share a photo of the light show without permission. You could always snap a photo of the darkened building at night for your IG story, but really, what’s the fun in that?

There is good news for tourists, though. If you’re only trying to get a good shot for the ‘gram, you probably needn’t worry. Snopes explained that the effort to bring legal action against the everyday social media user would be too big of a burden to be worth the effort.

However, if you want to publish images of the tower all lit up anywhere official or for commercial use, you’ll want to get permission from the Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (the company which owns and operates the tower).

As the Société notes on the Eiffel Tower’s official website, “Photographing the Eiffel Tower at night is not illegal at all. Any individual can take photos and share them on social networks. But the situation is different for professionals. The Eiffel Tower’s lighting and sparkling lights are protected by copyright, so professional use of images of the Eiffel Tower at night requires prior authorization and may be subject to a fee.”

So go ahead, snap and share — and become an international criminal at large.

To ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey, here are five essential tips for planning the perfect summer road trip.

Summer road trips are a great way to explore new destinations and create unforgettable memories with your loved ones. However, planning a road trip can be daunting and overwhelming without proper preparation. There are countless potential destinations, routes, and activities to consider, which can quickly become overwhelming. To ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey, it’s essential to plan ahead and take care of all the necessary details. From deciding on your destination and route to packing essentials and planning activities, we’ll cover everything you need to know to make your trip a success. By following these tips, you can enjoy a stress-free and exciting adventure on the open road. So grab your map, pack your bags, and let’s hit the road!

Ekta Mohanani Kamra, Travel Enthusiast and Founder of Hop n Bop, shared five essential tips to help you plan the perfect summer road trip.

1. Plan your route

Considering the present heat situation, decide on the places you want to visit and plan your route accordingly. Use a map or a GPS to ensure that you have the most efficient and scenic route possible.

2. Check your vehicle

Before embarking on your road trip, make sure your vehicle is tuned up and in a good condition. Get it serviced, and check the tires, brakes and oils to ensure a safe and relaxed journey. To prevent motion sickness when travelling, stay hydrated as much as you can, take short breaks for snacks, and eat wholesome foods and cold liquids.

3. Pack light giving more space

Make a list of everything you need to pack for your trip including snacks, and water. Sunscreen and first aid kit. Pack smart and wear comfortable and breezy clothes to not cause any irritation on the trip. Don’t forget to pack some entertainment such as books and a good playlist to keep your fellow companions entertained.

4. Multiple drivers

Having at least two people who can drive is crucial so as to avoid delays and longer halts. Having more than one driver can make sure the driving responsibilities are shared equally, allowing each person to rest and refresh themselves. This also reduces the risk of driver fatigue.

5. Travel early

Travel during the early hours to reach your destination before the scorching heat of the day sets in. This could help you if you wish to do outdoor activities, as it helps you avoid the hottest part of the day, reducing the risk of exhaustion.

In conclusion, planning the perfect summer road trip requires preparation and excitement and with the right mindset and planning, it can become an unforgettable experience filled with adventure and relaxation. So grab a map, plan a route and hit the road for the trip of your life!