There’s a big elephant in the room when it comes to New Year’s Resolutions: Only 8% of people actually keep them, according to research from the University of Scranton. With exercise, personal finances, and nutrition topping the list of categories, our hot take is this: More people would keep their resolutions (especially, ahem, the people reading this blog) if they were centered around travel, something we all love.
Cheers to a brand new year. (Photo Credit: Antonio Gabola)
Which New Year’s travel resolution will you pick? (Photo Credit: Dmitriy Zub)
So with another year come and almost gone, we’ve got a chance to start fresh with a travel resolution or two that helps us become better, more worldly, more empathetic individuals. Once we’ve leveled-up our humanity, the finances and nutrition will just sort themselves out, probably.
Here are 5 great ideas for New Year’s Travel Resolutions.
Take a Disconnected Trip to Reconnect (with Your Best Self)
Most of us are vibrating on a pretty high-stress frequency and, frankly, it’s hard to come down from it. Travel helps, but the whirlwind of constant connectivity (chats, emails, and social media) can diminish the stress-relieving power of a vacation. So, as tough as it may be, you’ve got to disconnect if you really want to recharge.
This year, resolve to disconnect from your devices for a big portion of at least one trip. That could mean deleting social media, email, and chat apps, going into airplane mode for large chunks of each day, or even locking your phone in the hotel room safe for a while.
It’s time to disconnect. (Photo Credit: Alexander Andrews)
After a few days of digital detoxing, you’ll notice yourself savoring your surroundings and truly immersing yourself in the restorative and inspiring powers of travel. You’ll come out of this trip a better, less frazzled human.
Pro Tip: You’ll have to really plan ahead for this one. Let colleagues, friends, and family members know about your plan to disconnect well in advance of your trip. Come up with an out-of-office plan for work coverage and a plan for possible emergencies with loved ones (like telling them you’ll scan texts for emergencies twice per day, and to call the hotel front desk and ask them to ring your room if they really, really need to get ahold of you).
Document Your Travels (For Others or For Your Future Self)
Ever think about posting to LinkedIn more often or starting a self-reflection journal? Your next trip is the perfect time to start. Travel is an experience so many others (including your future self) can relate to, so opening up in written form about your experience away can inspire others or simply remind future you about what’s really important in life.
Your Future Self will thank you for all the memories. (Photo Credit: Joanna Kosinska)
You can use your phone — but only for photos. (Photo Credit: Sebastien Gabriel)
Your unique perspective is beautiful, and having the chance to relive eye-opening moments through your own words or photographs can keep you on the trajectory of growing empathy and worldliness that travel gifts us all.
Pro Tip: Consider investing in a product that makes you excited to journal or take photos. Two minute journals, a nice Moleskine and a perfectly inky pen, or that new camera lens you’ve been eyeing will keep you motivated to keep up with documenting your travel experiences.
Go Solo
This one sounds scary to some people, and if you’re one of those people, it might just benefit you the most. Traveling solo is one of the most powerful tactics for self-discovery and self-love. According to solotravelerworld.com, solo experiences help you “be good at being you.”
It’s also time to go solo. (Photo Credit: Artem Beliaikin)
Building a strong, healthy relationship with yourself helps you show up better for everyone else in your life, so resolving to spend some [quality] time away with yourself is one of those resolutions that, in its own small way, makes the world a better place. Not to sound too woo-woo, but it’s true true.
Pro Tip: Journaling, even if for less than 2 minutes a day (try the Day One app), can maximize the lasting self-discovery and self-acceptance that solo travel can provide.
Make This the Year You Become a Sustainability-Minded Traveler
Eco-friendly travel choices are more abundant than ever. First (and super easy, btw), you can offset the carbon footprint from your flight by purchasing carbon offsets. Next, you can choose hotels with environmentally sound commitments and eco-friendly practices like energy efficiency.
Try traveling a little more sustainably this year. (Photo Credit: Toa Heftiba)
Once you’re there, resolve to minimize your waste by bringing reusable travel items, opting to forego laundering until you need it, and only purchasing items you really need. You know you can do it, so feel good this year about actually making sustainability happen.
Pro Tip: Sustainable Travel International has a nifty carbon footprint calculator for your flight, road trip, or cruise. In a few clicks on their site, you can purchase a carbon offset equal to that footprint.
Learn a Few Key Phrases… and Use Them Somewhere New
If you want to keep your brain sharp, start learning a new language. It’s been shown to strengthen cognitive abilities across the board and even help stave off dementia as you age. Plus, it’s pretty fun. What’s even more fun is picking a place you’ve never been, where the population speaks a language you’ve never really spoken, and booking a trip there.
Then, as the anticipation builds, you spend some time every week learning key phrases that will help you while you’re there. You’ll be bursting into a new part of your brain and strengthening those neural pathways, which benefits you in the long-run. Plus, locals appreciate when you’ve clearly put some elbow grease into learning their language. Nice move, citizen of the world.
Try learning some key phrases — the locals will thank you. (Photo Credit: Wilhelm Gunkel)
When life goals are travel goals. (Photo Credit: Julian Paul)
Pro Tip: Yes, phrases related to currency and purchasing and the location of facilities and attractions will definitely help you get around, but don’t forget to learn a few phrases that help you connect with people there. “Thank you so much,” “This is delicious” and “It’s beautiful here” are great places to start. Thankful for Google Translate.
We hope your wheels are turning on setting a travel-related New Year’s Resolution. With so many great options that help you become a better you (and therefore help the world just a little bit), you can’t go wrong with deciding that this year, your #lifegoals will be #travelgoals.
