Solo travel: an experience not to be underestimated
Solo travel: an experience not to be underestimated
What are the benefits of taking a solo trip? What are the ten tips to follow to prepare? What can online therapy do?
Solo travel could be one of the most important and transformative experiences of your life. Traveling alone, in fact, inevitably encourages inner and spiritual growth, as well as practical growth. You don’t need to go to India or necessarily to the other side of the world to have an enlightened traveler’s experience. When you travel alone it is the journey itself—whether in Europe, in Italy, or on another continent—that lays you bare with yourself, helps you understand your limits, face your limits, and bring out resources that probably, in other situations within our comfort zone, would have remained dormant. Solo travel can therefore make us aware of our limits but also of our ability to manage or not manage situations of stress and loneliness, as well as our communication and socialization skills when we feel like interrupting our moments of solitude to make new acquaintances or to deal with problems; it is not only a time of fun and enjoyment of every moment, but an achievement, a journey of introspection to embark upon by carefully choosing the destination and the type of trip that is best and most in line with oneself.
Questions to ask yourself
- Which area or city would I like to go to?
- Why would I like to go right there?
- What would I like to do in that place?
- What would I really like to get out of this trip?
The last question presents us with a very important issue in order to decide the destination of our trip and the type.
Do we want to get away from home to relax? Or to explore new cultures? Do we want to test ourselves and dive into new adventures? Or are we looking for introspection or an opportunity to recharge and unplug? Or do we simply feel compelled to move because of holidays or because others impose it on us?
Regardless of the answer, making it revolve around this question will become important to leave with greater awareness and intention. In addition, if it is your first time traveling alone, you don’t have to venture on very long trips to the other side of the world; you can also start testing yourself alone in safe places, closer to your range of action, perhaps where you also have a point of reference such as an old friend or acquaintance, or leaving alone but within a group (there are many agencies that organize this type of trip; it is another way to approach solo travel more safely), whether in Italy or in Europe, in countries already visited or not, for a weekend or for a week. And then gradually increasing the difficulties and widening our horizons more and more, if we wish, until we feel ready to face longer trips.
The initial steps, in fact, will help us to test ourselves first in a small way, as with any great challenge, to acquire new skills, test ourselves and help us build confidence, trust and self-esteem. In small doses we can understand whether solo travel is for us or whether we are looking for something else altogether.
10 tips for setting off alone
- Define carefully the dates and duration of your trip: the advantage of leaving solo is being able to organize yourself with great freedom, choosing departure days, times, trip duration, period (seasons), budget, destination, transport; reclaiming your free time without negotiations, simply trying to do something you like;
- Study and plan: once you have chosen the destination, it will be good to study your destination as best as possible (accommodation, transportation, local culture, things to do, local language, currency, costs, any addresses or numbers, etc.); and therefore to plan your trip in broad terms. Having a plan before leaving and studying the area well helps to set small points of reference, to feel safer and not too lost once on site, even if you are alone;
- Seek moral support: when you decide to leave it is good to create a relaxed and proactive atmosphere. Those who encourage you in your adventure might be your family or your partner, or—if they do not approve of this experience—thank them for the advice anyway but go your own way. There are several forums on the internet where other travelers share their experiences; it can also prove useful and stimulating to compare notes with other travelers, for honest and disinterested support;
- No heavy luggage: when traveling solo, moving and traveling light can be an extremely vital suggestion. When traveling alone you have to rely only on yourself, so be careful to bring only the essentials and the useful (chargers, any medications, etc.) and to be able to manage your luggage in any situation, moving nimbly (for this purpose backpacks and the like are certainly preferable);
- Travel safely: when traveling solo it is always good to get information about the place and its laws, have all necessary documents, visas, passports, note down useful numbers and addresses in case of emergency, get a phone SIM if necessary, keep in touch with a family member or trusted person to update them on our movements and leave a trace;
- Coping with boredom or loneliness: usually on a trip the risk of getting bored is definitely low. We can admire new landscapes, explore, watch or talk to local people, taste new dishes, take notes, take photos; in moments of loneliness we can perhaps bring a good book with us or—if we are in a hostel—exchange a few words with our roommates, improve our knowledge of the local language, or try some recreational activity. Once at our destination, ideas will certainly not be lacking;
- Fewer preconceptions, more openness: traveling solo we might think we are the center of attention for passersby, that we will find ourselves in embarrassing moments or situations, or in moments when sadness, disorientation, or uncertainty may be felt. If we have decided to embark on a solo trip, we are first and foremost courageous people who, regardless of what acquaintances or family members may think or say behind our backs, are testing themselves, having a new experience. So let’s not pay attention to others but enjoy the moment as much as possible; don’t be afraid to take the plunge, ask for information, trust, talk to people. Despite all the bad in the world there will always be good people willing to help us, anywhere in the world. Everything we experience will undoubtedly give us greater open-mindedness and will certainly lower the bar of prejudices and preconceptions with which we probably started out, both about others and about ourselves;
- Do what we like: if we travel solo we have the opportunity to follow our rhythms and inclinations, so let’s do everything we want and in our own way! If we want to sleep a little longer in the morning, let’s do it; if while we’re out we want to stop for a break, let’s do it; if we notice something interesting, let’s get closer. The important thing is to feel calm, relaxed and fully satisfied as we go about our days;
- Self-confidence: solo travel is testing; despite all fears, always be confident. You will get through this great and beautiful experience, and you will discover even more confidence in yourself, satisfaction in your small and big actions away from home, greater self-esteem. Whatever you want to do you can do it—on a trip you are there for that. Try that restaurant, sit down to have a drink alone, go visit that beach or that museum that attracts you so much, and so on. Without too many thoughts, without giving in to boredom, discomfort or others’ gaze; stay in the present, follow the flow of things, just do it, follow your heart and give yourself a beautiful experience;
- Live the moment and enjoy it to the fullest: traveling alone is first and foremost a choice, and therefore it should be enjoyed fully to the end, in all its facets and potential. Test yourself, live your days according to your rhythms doing what makes your heart beat, stay alone with yourself or try to open yourself to the world, think positively, focus on the present, do one thing at a time and focus on all the beautiful things you can grasp in the place you have chosen to visit, try to return home as enriched and satisfied as possible compared to when you left, let yourself be carried away by beauty and freedom.
What can online therapy do
Whatever your motivations, travel is something that inevitably pushes you to evolve. Through online therapy we can better assess the motivations for our trip, the perspectives and expectations, learn to manage any problems, insecurities, or anxieties related to such an adventure. Certainly increase self-confidence, stay clear-headed, and prepare for the experience.
If at first it may seem like a sort of escape from everyday life, once you return you will notice that you are stronger. You put yourself to the test, you feel more confident, you took the plunge, and in your own way you did well; you saw new things, you encountered new and different places or people, you confronted yourself and your fears, or you gathered new ideas, new information, new points of view that will certainly enrich your path and your life.
Alone or in company, one thing is certain: if you fully enjoyed your travel opportunity, if you listened to your inner voice, your instinct, you made it; you took another step toward greater growth of consciousness, you probably discovered new things not only about the world, but about yourself. From a solo trip, in particular, you will inevitably return changed—certainly more secure, stronger, perhaps even incredulous at having discovered things about yourself that perhaps, in other circumstances, would not have come out. All this can be further material to reflect on and work through also through online therapy.
However the trip takes place, if lived with the right spirit—that of the “true traveler’’ and not the tourist—you will certainly return with greater awareness of your life, of what surrounds you, of your actions and your potential.
For information write to Dr. Jessica Zecchini.
Email contact consulenza@jessicazecchini.it, whatsapp contact 370 32 17 351
