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How on Earth did life so from so normal to so alien in such a short space of time? Here we are, once again in lockdown in the UK (although I don’t know about anyone else but this lockdown feels like a bit of a joke), a weird sort of half Christmas on the horizon away from friends and family and no prospects of traveling again for the foreseeable future. Well, for most of us.
Photo by Ryan Spencer on Unsplash
Just for reference, when I say “travel” in this post, I don’t mean upping sticks, leaving home and backpacking for 6 months. That’s not me and not something I think I’d enjoy very much. I’m not a “traveler” so to speak. So when I say “travel” throughout this post, I’m referring to holidays. Whether that be a staycation in the UK to a city I’ve never been to, a week away in the sun somewhere in Europe or visiting the attractions in the states.
And I think it’s important to remember that travel means different things to everyone and there’s no right or wrong way to travel. If what you’re doing, where you’re going and what you’re seeing makes you happy, that’s LITERALLY all that should matter. Despite what anyone else thinks.
Okay, glad we got that out of the way. Over the last 8 years or so, travel has been pretty limited for me. For a large chunk of that time, it was due to anxiety. So it’s bloody typical that I find myself in the best place of my life, ready to start traveling and seeing the world properly again, just when we’re not allowed to. The Universe has a funny way of working sometimes.
Related read: How To Look After Your Mental Health When COVID Is Over
But I’m definitely not the only one who will have a ton of travel plans or dreams after COVID or when it’s safe to do so again. Travel is a big part of many of our lives. And not traveling or seeing anywhere new can definitely have a detrimental effect on our mental health and general well-being. Travel is good for the soul, they say! So it’s really hard when we’re told, like naughty children at school, that we must stay home.
So despite the things that we never enjoy when we’re traveling, such as travel disruptions from Omio, I can’t wait to start going places again when this nightmare is over. Here are 5 reasons why I can’t wait to travel again after COVID!
The planning stage is mega exciting
The thing about travel, holidays, events and anything like that, is that the planning stage is SO exciting. So really, your travel adventures start much earlier than when you actually get on the plane or the train.
The great thing now is that the planning stage of your trip is so easy, with many sites such as Omio, to use to compare prices and personalize your trip options to suit you. From planes, trains or coaches, to anywhere from Bath, London, Vienna, Paris, Brussel and SO many more locations!
It’s good for my soul
Although I’m not a hardcore traveler as we’ve already established, I do feel like traveling, holidays and seeing new places is good for my soul. When I go for longer periods of time without having any plans or anything to look forward to, I get a bit restless. I also find myself getting agitated and feeling lower than usual.
Having nothing to look forward to really negatively impacts my mental health. Which is something I’ve worried quite a lot about this year during lockdown and something I’ve tried SO hard to avoid happening. But due to the fact that I’ve not really been able to go anywhere this year (apart from a trip to The Ferry House), I’ll definitely be traveling more whilst I’m in a position to do so.
I want to use different methods of transport
I haven’t actually flown on a plane in almost a decade. With most of my recent staycations been taken in the car. So different methods of transport is definitely something I want to explore more when I can travel more post COVID. For example, I’d potentially be looking at getting a train from London to Bath to meet one of my blogging friends.
And I’d definitely like to start to travel by coach throughout the UK as well. I think coaches are a great transport option and it also gives to time to sit and chill, listen to music or podcasts or even get some work done on the journey!
I want to step outside of my comfort zone
Like I mentioned earlier, travel has felt a bit limited for me over the last 8 years or so due to my anxiety. But I’m in a great place in my life right now and I’m SO ready to travel again and travel to some new places and have some new experiences. I’m ready to get out of my comfort zone – even travel ALONE – and not let anything stop me!
I’m bored
Okay, final point but one that I think a lot of people will agree with. I’m bored. I’m bored of being at home. I’m bored of seeing the same 4 places over and over again. Such as the supermarket. I’m just bored of this year. I know the most important thing about this year was that we stayed safe and healthy, there’s no denying that staying at home for as long as we have has had and will continue to have an impact on people’s mental health.
I’m not the only one who’s felt bored this year. And whilst I’m grateful to have had a job throughout lockdown, I’ve really missed traveling and going for breaks away with my boyfriend. Really missed it.
