Why Everyone Should Try Travelling Solo
I travelled to New Zealand in January 2020 to begin my world travel starting at the furthest point to make my way back to the UK through as many countries as possible.
However, in March COVID hit and my plans changed. Now you could call me lucky being in New Zealand a country that controlled the pandemic well and we only had to complete 50 days of lockdown before we were free to live the normal life.
I ended up travelling around for 11 months and seeing this incredibly beautiful country until the Australian boarder opened and I was able to jump to another country to begin a new adventure for the next 7 months until a family wedding and business called me back to the UK in June 2021.
When I first started to tell people that I was going travelling on my own one of the common responses was ‘you’re brave’. It had me thinking was I brave or just understood that travelling on your own is extremely easy. You do not have to consider anyone else and their needs, you can change your plans last minute and move on when you’re ready.
When you travel solo you must finally come to terms with who you really are, there is no escaping. You could go days without talking to someone or go and do a 10-day silent retreat where you really get to understand what your mind does without noise.
Travelling opens your mind to new experiences no day being the same, variety becomes comfortable. As a solo traveller if you want to do something you have to organise it, show up and make the effort with new people. Going into new situations becomes easier the more you do it.
I often say that ‘fear is simply something that you haven’t done enough times’ . As I travelled, I made it a goal to get better each day at understanding who I was and where I wanted to go. I built new habits on the road from my meditation, breathing and journaling every morning. This was non-negotiable and I was often sharing dorm rooms where I could have been concerned on what people would think of me. But I would tell my room mates that I’d be up early and if they seen me sitting on the floor or the bed meditating not to be shocked.
I made it a goal to always be working on my business and getting more clients, increasing my social media, writing blogs, emails and sharing my coaching tips through facebook live videos and my ten-minute mind fitness method group. I wanted to know if I could be successful by keeping up with good habits and processes while I was on the road.
I wanted to be able to show people that by travelling on your own you have the time and space to put into action the changes you need. Often when you are stuck in life your environment can be pulling you back into your old ways. This is evident when you think about dieting and your partner is not on board. You might be eating different meals and they could be tempting you with the bad foods as they don’t want you to change as this highlights to them their lack of control over their own food intake. By making you break the diet they are reassured that you won’t stick to it and change.
Most people are not comfortable with change so if you’re looking for support from your friends and family to make these big changes you are heading for upset. Its why coaching has become such an asset to use when transforming your life. A coach is the one person that will support and encourage you, keeping you accountable through out the process of change.
When you travel solo you have time to appreciate the small things like having a bottom bunk in a dorm room, a bedroom to yourself, no roommate snoring, sharp knifes in the kitchen, pans that don’t stick, a freezer, a car with working AC and clean fridges. I am grateful everyday for the small things you take for granted when you’re living in a house.
You have the time to reflect on your life without any interruptions from family, friends, or work commitments. I was able to get truly clear on how I wanted to show up in the world. How much work I need to put in to expand my business so I can live and work in Australia for 6 months, UK for 3 months and 3 months travelling. I don’t want the normal life I want an exceptional life and to show my clients how to do the same.
As I think about my travels ending for a bit, I’m excited to spend more time working then travelling to help more people break free of unfulfilling jobs and start a new career in something they love. I head back with an appreciation for my family, friends, and the small things.
I’m a different person to that woman that got on a plane 18 months ago it wasn’t an eat, pray, love but more of a health, understanding, growth experience. Without solo travel I wouldn’t be in this amazing space of knowing the real me and having clear direction on where I am taking my life in the next 12 months.
If you’re thinking about doing something solo whether it’s a trip somewhere without the kids or partner. Perhaps like me your single and saved up money in the lockdown to plan that year away.
It was the best decision I ever made, and it gave me the most amazing relationship with myself that you can’t get with others around. The only relationship you will have for life is the one with yourself so make sure it’s incredible.
