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I could talk about solo travel all day. I remember taking my first solo trip (a week in Dublin) and I was so nervous beforehand, but now it is something I would recommend to everyone to try at least once in their lifetime. Not only do you have the freedom to go where you want and do want you want, but there are also some great life lessons to be gained from solo travel that you just don’t get when part of a group.
Life Lessons to be Gained From Solo Travel
Become a Problem Solver
Travelling Solo means you are responsible for every aspect of your trip. Yes, certain things happen that are beyond your control, but there are also aspects of travel that only you are to blame if they go wrong. If you’ve gotten on the wrong train or not left home early enough and missed your flight these were your mistakes, but you will learn from these errors and know for future trips.
You don’t need to someone with you to take the flack, you just need to be prepared and organised and to pay attention.
Stop Comparing Yourself
When you travel and then tell others about your travels (whether it’s in a blog post, in a video or simply in person) there is always the chance that the other person will have an opinion about where you went, what you did and how much money you spent. It’s really easy to start comparing your trips to other peoples and to wonder whether you should try to travel more like them.
You shouldn’t. Go where you want to go, do want you want to do, spend as little or as much as you want. If you want to spend a day lying on a beach, then do it. If you want to spend that day wandering slowly through a museum, then do that instead. If you want to throw yourself headfirst off a bridge (bungee cord is advised,) then do that. no two people are the same, so why would they travel in the same way.
Spend Time With People Who Make You Happy
There is nothing worse than being surrounded by people who make you feel bad about yourself. Travelling alone really does remind you of who your friends are, and which family members are supportive and understanding. The ones worth your time and energy are the ones who are supportive of your plans and life choices, they are the ones who cheer you on and celebrate your achievements, they are the ones who welcome you with open arms when you return from trips and see you off when heading on new adventures.
Everyone else will drift away, and that’s ok.
Improve Your Time Management
When you are the only one responsible for whether or not you make that flight, or turn up on time for a booked activity, you will learn pretty quickly that you have to be organised and turn up for things on time.
Have a Sense of Direction
There is something strangely exciting about getting a little lost in an unfamiliar city as it really does give you the opportunity to explore and discover hidden gems, whether it’s a great place to have coffee, a wonderful antique shop, or simply a pretty quiet street to take a lovely photo. However, having a rough idea of where you are is always a good idea, something you really want to avoid is not knowing how to get back to your accommodation, especially at night.
The best recommendation I can give is to always carry a map of the local area, don’t always rely on Google, and if you’re staying in a hotel then pop one of their business cards into your pocket. If you’re staying in an area that’s a little tricky to navigate (Marrakech is a good example) then take photos of the outside of your accommodation and the surrounding streets, picking out easily identifiable landmarks to help you retrace your steps later on.
Appreciate Your Own Company
When you spend good quality time by yourself you learn that actually you don’t need to be surrounded by people all of the time in order to enjoy yourself. I love seeing my friends, but I also really love sitting by myself you a drink and a good book, I love aimlessly wandering quiet streets hunting down a nice bookshop or antique market, I love quietly appreciating a beautiful view without the need for pointless chatter and distractions.
What life lessons have you gained from solo travel?
Let me know in the comments.
