Why You Should Make 2017 The Year Of Travel

Most of us won’t follow through on our New Year’s Resolutions. No matter how badly we convince ourselves this will be the year we will lose weight or work less or take up that passion product, the numbers don’t lie. According to a study by the University of Scranton, only 8 percent of people actually achieve their New Year’s resolutions.

That said, we think there’s one New Year’s goal in particular that’s worth following up on: travel. Many people jot down “travel more” on their list of resolutions; but at the end of the year, vacation days go unused, and that dream trip remains just that—a dream.

Why not finally make 2017 your year of travel? Here are just a few of the reasons we think this is one Near Year’s Resolution worth following through on:

1. It Doesn’t Have To Be That Expensive

One of the top reasons we find people don’t follow through with their resolve to travel more is because of the misconception that it will be far too expensive. While yes, traveling does take money, it doesn’t have to be as pricey as you might think. In fact, we find we spent far less money when we were fully nomadic than we do now that we have roots in Costa Rica.

There are plenty of travel hacks that can help you save money on airfare and accommodation. You might have to think creatively (and sacrifice the five-star hotel) but that doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences. If you’re not sure where to get started, we recommend checking out our tips to saving money on travel here.

2. It Broadens Your Perspective

We’ve always believed that travel is one of the quickest ways to break down perceived barriers between cultures, ideas and beliefs. At the end of the day, we are all more alike than we are different—and experiencing cultures different than our own is one of the most effective ways to remember that.

With social media bubbles often reaffirming our limited world view, 2017 is the time to expand our horizons and broaden our understanding of those with different beliefs than our own. 

3. It Fosters New Passions

When we were traveling full-time, many friends and family thought that meant we were drinking cocktails on the beach every day. While yes, there were some margaritas at sunset, traveling also provided us with the perfect avenue to further our other passions.

For example, maybe one of your goals this year is to get physically fit. For your next vacation, you could try a cycling tour of Argentina or a rock climbing adventure in Thailand. Or maybe you finally want to learn how to cook or paint, so you join that culinary or artist’s weeklong retreat in Tuscany. No matter what you choose, combining your passion projects with travel offers the perfect opportunity to push your comfort zone and stimulate your creativity.

4. It Makes You Happier and More Productive

Science proves that travel might be the secret to happiness—and who doesn’t want a little more joy in their life? This year, rather than spending that extra money on material possessions that will quickly become old news, why not invest in travel experiences that will stay with you forever?

What’s more, employees who use their vacation time can see massive health benefits and increased productivity. One study by Project Time Off reports that 75 percent of professionals saw better performance from team members who took more vacation days, as opposed to those who took less. That means no more making work an excuse.

Are you ready to make 2017 your year of travel? Drop us a line in the comments to share any other reasons why you want to make traveling a non-negotiable this year!

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