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6 Ways Travel Can Cure Burnout

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Always consult a healthcare professional if you feel you are suffering from burnout. These are only suggestions, not medical advice.

Why is it important not to overlook burnout?

When Jack Torrance took a winter caretaker position at the Overlook Hotel in Kubrick’s “The Shining,” he said all he wanted was to have five months of peace with his family. 

Those who made it through 146 minutes of the film know that it wasn’t exactly a dream holiday.

It was evident that Jack was severely burnt out. He was living under constant stress due to the job loss and financial issues. He was mentally suffocating but wasn’t able to address that adequately—he didn’t have the tools. 

Don’t be like Jack. Don’t take your burnout with you on a trip. Otherwise, it’ll hunt you down.

In this piece, we’ll discuss traveling as an antidote to burnout and list some ideas for resetting your mind. 

Change Of Scenery

Burnout is a state of mind when you are constantly exhausted and lack motivation and focus. The good news is that we can change our states; they aren’t permanent. 

To get to a place you’ve never been before, you’ll need to do things you’ve never done before. Take a trip to change your lifestyle for a while. One way to fix burnout is to leave it at home. Take a break from it. Let your inner child decide where you’re going and what you want to try. Don’t plan your trip, and set no expectations. Give in to your intuition and let it guide you. 

There’s an App for That

If you want to make it a journey of self-discovery, take Liven with you as a companion. The app will help you better understand your experiences and reflect on your thoughts, emotions, and actions during and after the trip. You can also use it to plan new nourishing activities and modulate your behaviour.  

6 Ways Travel Can Help Cure Burnout

Break the routine

Burnout is a result of monotonous tasks and pressure. Visiting new places and trying new activities helps you break away from this lifestyle and rest. This allows your brain to recharge and reignites curiosity and joy.

Divide a sheet of paper in half. On the left side, write down your usual routine; on the right, write down the new routine you notice during your journey. Don’t plan it or set expectations—that’s your inner critic trying to sneak into your suitcase. Leave the right side blank until you travel – and then add notes there.

Reconnect with nature

Travel to the sea, mountains, or forests helps you relax, recharge, and clear your mind. Natural environments isolate you from the daily grind, giving you space to reconnect with yourself and focus on your needs.

And there’s no need to spend a whole lot of money on that: just Google the nearest lake, grab some snacks and contemplate the view. 

Create space for reflection

Sit by the water and reevaluate your life priorities. Why rush? Rediscover your passions you’ve forgotten in the everyday hustle—ideate on new hobbies. You can unwind and reconsider your whole life when away from work tasks.

You might come back with fresh ideas on what you want to achieve in life and what you need to drop. 

Build connections

Connect with fellow travellers escaping burnout. You already share a common experience—discuss where you’ve come from, what you’re doing now, and your time in nature.

Search for group meetups of tourists and locals in the new cities. Together, you can try hiking, karaoke, windsurfing—pretty much anything available at your place of rest. This way, you’ll tame your loneliness, often associated with burnout. 

Rediscover a sense of adventure

An antidote to burnout and stagnation? Fun! 

Let local people take you to a music gig, attend a standup comedy show, or learn a local craft. Travel can help you experience a sense of wonder, which allows you to reduce burnout gradually.

Boost physical activity

Choose the activities you find the most pleasant: swimming, hiking, cycling. Any physical activity improves mood and increases energy levels—all counteract burnout. Don’t be hard on yourself. Balance activity with rest—walk 10 miles one day, relax at the beach the next. Take it easy.

3 Things To Take With You On a Trip

Bring these essentials with you for a carefree trip:

  • Comfortable footwear. A good pair of shoes will help support proper alignment of your feet, ankles, and legs, reducing strain on your knees, hips, and lower back.
  • Snacks. Pack some easy-to-carry snacks like protein bars, nuts, or dried fruit. This will keep you energized during long flights, bus rides, or while waiting at airports
  • Personal hygiene items. Bring essential toiletries like toothpaste, deodorant, hand sanitizer, and any necessary medication. Grab sunscreen if you’re traveling somewhere sunny.

3 Things Not To Take With You On a Trip

It’s important to take care of your body and also your mind and soul. As you travel, leave these behind: 

  • Your inner critic. Grab your stuff, embark on a route, and leave your negative chatter at home. No worries, you can still return to it once you’re back 
  • Work tasks. Give yourself the chance to unplug, even if it’s only for a day or two. Delegate the workload to your colleagues to come back refreshed 
  • High expectations. Don’t aim to visit five local museums, ten concerts, and three libraries in two days. Instead, get spontaneous and go with the flow.

Travel as much as possible, even if you’re not burnt out. Seeing new places, people, trying new food and living through new experiences is the best way to refill your inner space with new impressions. But to make it work, one thing is crucial—being always present in the moment and trying to indulge in each part of this beautiful experience. That’s the secret: less pic-capturing, but observing; less thinking, but feeling. 

New places and atmospheres will keep your mind lively and help you avoid stressing out too much.

See how to set up a travel journal for more ideas on how travel can be good for the soul.