If you’re missing travel right now, you’re certainly not alone. Millions of people are itching to explore the globe one again, and unfortunately, not being able to travel is taking a toll on their overall wellbeing. In fact, in a 2,000 people survey that was recently conducted by American Express, 48% of the people said that not being able to travel makes them stressed out and anxious, and 78% said that traveling is one of the activities they miss the most. Many of us are starting to be affected by the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic and not being able to travel in some way or another, with a majority of us experiencing some unexpected mental and emotional effects.
If you aren’t sure what to expect, here are some of the mental and emotional effects you may experience travel limitations at this time:
You May Endure Burnout
The pandemic has made it difficult for many people to have a healthy work/life balance. In fact, many Americans are working more now during the coronavirus pandemic than they were before the pandemic started. According to The Ladders, the average workday has increased by almost 40% (3 hours), leading to Americans working 11 hours per day instead of 8. Working longer hours with increased stress on your shoulders will only lead to burnout, and not having any travel plans will only make it more likely that you will endure burnout. This is because when you have a vacation planned, you have something to look forward to. You know that eventually you’ll arrive at your destination and will be able to relax and destress.
If you’re feeling stressed out, here are some ways that you can manage stress and avoid work burnout during the pandemic.
You May Feel Like You’re Stuck in a Rut
Having a trip planned can motivate you and allows you to focus on your long-term goals. This is why when you can’t travel or don’t have any travel plans, you may feel like you’re stuck in a rut at times.
Let’s be honest, the coronavirus pandemic has made it nearly impossible to enjoy simple events such as going out to dinner, going to see a movie, and even visiting friends and family. Most of us wake up each day, perform our daily routines, go to sleep, and do it all over again, which, in turn, can make you feel like you’re stuck in a rut.
If you feel like you’re stuck in a rut, take a look at this list that has some suggestions to help you get out of a rut.
You Might Feel Less Creative
Travel allows you to get away from your everyday surroundings, let’s you see the world from a different point of view, and most importantly, lets you think more creatively than you would at home. When you’re stuck at home and are surrounded by the same environment everyday, it’s hard to think outside the box. There’s not a whole lot that sparks inspiration, which may lead to you feeling less creative than you would while traveling.
To spark creativity, take a look at this list of 6 ways that you can become a more creative person.
You Could See a Slight Change in Your Personality
Traveling shapes us in ways we never thought possible. It allows us to learn more about ourselves in terms of what foods you like, what activities you like to do, how you handle tough situations, and who you are as a person overall.
When you can’t travel, you may feel as if you’re a little lost as to who you are. Your journey of self discovery that you go through while traveling has been put on a temporary standstill, which in turn, might lead to a slight change in your personality.
You can learn a little bit more about yourself by taking this personality test.
If you’re feeling the mental and emotional effects of lack of travel, just know that you’re not alone. These are tough and uncertain times that we are going through, and it’s normal to feel a little off. Keep in mind that travel will return to normal once again, but until then, we are all in this together. Stay safe everyone!
