The positive effect of travel on mental health
To coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week, a new poll has revealed that travel can work wonders for our stressed-out noggins – and that the UK is still a nation of bookworms.
Who knew that the secret to a happier holiday is simply doing “nothing”? According to a poll by one of Europe’s leading online travel agents, stopping and taking a breather has the most positive effect on mental wellbeing while on vacation (42%), followed by sightseeing (35%) and reading (19%) – in which Brits, the nation of Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde, lead the pack.
The poll, by Opodo, who surveyed 10,000 respondents across the globe, revealed the majority of respondents (63%) reported holidaying in general had a “very positive” impact on their mental wellbeing.
The poll also showed that age and nationality impacts what activities are most beneficial for mental wellbeing while on holiday. From getting lost in a good book to trying out adventurous activities, different age groups and nationalities have different preferences.
Of those polled, 24% of global respondents aged 18-24 reported an uplift in mood from adventurous activities, compared to just 14% of those aged 45-54. Meanwhile, 19% of Brits aged 65 and over reported the positive effects of meeting new people on holiday, compared to just 7% of those aged 45-54.
In the UK, 59% of the “squeezed middles” (45–54-year-olds) claimed holidaying had the most positive effects, while 90% of Brits felt that travel has a “very” or “quite” positive effect on their mental wellbeing. But the study also revealed some interesting regional differences. For instance, while 64% of people from the East Midlands reported a “very positive” effect, only 47% of Scots felt the same way. Globally, the Portuguese and Italians are the real travel champs, with 79% and 78% respectively saying vacations have a “very positive” impact on their mental wellbeing. In comparison, only 42% of Americans felt the same way.
Meanwhile, according to the survey, 31% of British respondents voted for reading as the second most beneficial activity during holidays, compared with only 13% of French and 14% of Portuguese. And it’s not just about the country – within the UK, folks from the North West love to get stuck into a page-turner. A whopping 43% of them ranked it as the second most important source of mental wellbeing while on holiday. While Northern Ireland only had 7% of readers.
So whether you’re an adrenaline-seeking youngster or a seasoned explorer, the activities that boost your mental wellbeing during a vacation can vary. So, it’s time to break free from those daily routines, escape the stress, and embrace the magic of a well-deserved getaway. Your brain will thank you for it.