Life after divorce can be an adjustment. And while traveling without a partner may sound like a foreign concept to you, it is actually one of the best things you could do for your mental well-being. Vacationing solo allows you to take in your environment, and experience life in new ways that can be deeply personal and rewarding. Yes, traveling with a companion or family can be wonderful, but when you are alone in a new place — without your regular distractions — you allow yourself time to discover what inspires you, and what makes you happy. Also, instead of coming home with only souvenirs of your journey, you may just return with a better perspective, and new insights into your own mind and heart. Although you may not have ever considered it before, below are four reasons why traveling single is good for the soul.
Planning A Solo Trip Has Become Much Easier: Everyone has a bucket list of special destinations they wish to travel to and explore in their lifetime. Many times, we hold ourselves back from experiencing new places because we don’t have anyone to share these adventures with, the timing never seems to line up perfectly, or it may be intimidating to plan a trip to a brand new destination. Waiting for the right budget, schedule, and travel partner can also be frustrating. There are many travel sites that now cater to solo travelers, allowing you to create your own customized itinerary for many different budget categories, from basic to deluxe. You’ve gone out of your way to put everyone else’s needs first; now is the time to take care of you. Don’t be afraid to use your research skills and creativity to explore your options, or allow someone to help you create the trip that is based on your interests, passions, and desires. This is the first step in soothing the soul.
You Create The Itinerary: Taking a vacation as a couple or with a travel partner means making sacrifices to meet your companion’s needs. Rather than arguing where you will stay, where you will eat, or what you will do, traveling alone means you can oversee your own vacation. This also means that you can have maximum flexibility in your day. Were you originally planning to attend an art museum, but instead got diverted following a fun street festival or antique art fair? Traveling alone allows you to follow those impulses, and choose your instincts over someone else’s idea of fun.
You Can Enjoy Very Necessary “Me” Time:
We live in a constantly connected world filled with complications and diversions. Our schedules keep us constantly bustling, and our daily life demands mean that everything and everyone comes first. A vacation is the perfect opportunity to make up for that lost “me” time. You’ll learn more about yourself outside of your daily routine: discovering new interests and seeing things through a fresh lens. Whether you decide to enjoy a relaxing weekend at a spa, or an adrenaline-pumped adventure ziplining through the rainforest, a solo trip allow for some much-needed self-care, which in turn will rejuvenate your soul and put you back in touch with what makes you smile.
You Can Meet New People: While you may wish to take your journey completely alone, you may find yourself unexpectedly making new friends along the way. Interacting with bartenders, wait staff, or other guests while checking out new restaurants or striking up a conversation with someone in a grocery store can be a great way to get to know the local life. If you happen to be interested in meeting a few folks and perhaps making new connections, sign up for a unique event such as a cooking class or museum tour.
The next time you need a getaway, consider a solo trip to help soothe the soul and restore mental well-being. If we have learned anything from Elizabeth Gilberts’ memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, life after divorce can be beautiful when you open yourself up to new experiences and see the world with fresh new eyes. So take a page from her book, get out there, travel, and enjoy the world and all it has to offer — with or without a partner.
If you are contemplating divorce, or struggling with a high-conflict divorce procedure, let Tamara Harris, CEO of Tamara Harris LLC, be your partner as you navigate through each stage of your journey. As an impartial, experienced professional, Tamara will work directly with you to give you the best tools and strategies to manage the specific challenges and uncertainties of divorce. Serving as your Divorce Coach and advocate, she will help you see clearly during this time where emotions can often impede and derail your divorce procedure. While each member of your high-conflict divorce team – lawyers, accountants, financial advisors, and other experts – will be advising you, Tamara will help you to synthesize this information, think strategically about the options you have with clarity and purpose, and get your divorce across the finish line. Visit tamaraharris.com for more information, or contact Tamara Harris to discuss becoming a client. All inquires will be held in confidence.