It was during my trip to Tokyo, Japan back in 2018 that sparked my mindfulness and desire to be more intentional in why and how to travel. Months of planning down to every hour of my daily itinerary for the two week long trip took a lot of energy. I couldn’t shake the sense of exhaustion knowing that it would be quite stressful tackling Tokyo head on and trying to enjoy every moment.  It took a tiring few days of gallivanting across the city, tourist spot after tourist spot for me and my sister to realise that we wanted to make this trip meaningful. 

We slowed down the pace. We didn’t end up getting through even half of all the things I had planned out and that was completely fine, because we enjoyed ourselves and left out the worries being everywhere and seeing everything behind us.  The days after that felt so refreshing and at one point I felt like I had been living there for years. I felt more grounded and felt so much more aware of my surroundings— the smells, sounds, the sights.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE MINDFUL?

Being mindful can have many meanings to each of us, but it essentially dwells down to the act of being fully present, being aware of what is going on around you, and accepting the here and now without judgment. You can seamlessly apply this mindset when you travel, in order to fully absorb your experiences–embracing every moment for deeper understanding and enriched memories in return. 

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MINDFULNESS?

With mindfulness, we are able to enter a phase which is referred to as “present moment awareness”. This phase allows our focus and attention to be heightened,  resulting in us consciously taking in our surroundings more consciously and on a deeper level, which in turn leads to more meaningful richer experiences.  Here are the benefits of applying mindfulness to your travels:

• Being and feeling present – The number one goal when it comes to be mindful.

• Connecting to yourself – 

• Creating and maintaining meaningful connections with others – 

• Being able to make a positive impact on the destination you visit – Being mindful of others is very important especially when it comes to entering a new environment with people and customs you are not familiar with. Being mindful allows you to minimise actions that may be deemed as negative to the destination you are visiting and the local people who live in it.

• Unplug from distractions – One of the biggesting distractions to being mindful is spending time on our phones instead of focusing on what's in front of us. Stepping away from these types of barriers enables us to fully focus on the present.

• Building interpersonal skills – Mindfulness pushes us to adopt new lifelong skills such as self-control, optimism, etc. 

• Taps into your curiosity and openness – You will find it a lot easier to open and curious in unfamiliar situations and new experiences.

• Reduces stress and in some cases, anxiety – We all know that travel can become stressful very quickly. Mindfulness has been shown to have positive effects by reducing stress through strengthening physiological responses and your immune system. 

So now that you have a clear understanding of what being mindful is and how this mentality can benefit you during your travels it’s time to dive into a few ways you can make the most of your travels when you approach them mindfully. Let’s move on to how you can apply mindfulness to your travels…

PRACTICE MINDFULNESS AT HOME

Implementing mindfulness into your everyday helps to build a foundation of mindful thinking which will be easier and seamless for you to apply when you travel. An example would be to limit your screen time at home and spend some quality time with your family. 

BE OPEN MINDED

Be open to new experiences, stepping out of your comfort zone, connecting with others, embracing different cultures, and you are bound to learn a new thing or two. Try to let go of the usual routines you’ve been accustomed to back home in order to step out from your comfort zone.

CONNECT RATHER THAN DISCONNECT

We have all been guilty of trying to embody the essence of ‘escapism’ at some point in our lives when it comes to travelling. This usually dwells down to wanting to escape the stresses of our everyday lives. In other words reality. 

Instead of using travel as a way to disconnect from reality, use your time away as an opportunity to reconnect. Reconnect with yourself, engage with others and your surroundings. The sense of escaping most of the time will not work in your favour, even if you may not realise it right now. 

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN REAL CULTURAL EXPERIENCES

Be willing to immerse yourself in the local culture. Where’s the fun in visiting a place which may be vastly different in every way possible and not even bothering to immerse yourself within that?

Start conversations with the locals, get a sense of how they live and what they get up to daily. They will open your eyes to their culture and give their perspective on the world, which can do incredible things for your outlook on life.

Immersive culture exchange can easily be one the most valuable, awkward, and positive experiences you will encounter on a trip. These authentic experiences go way deeper than the average and played-out ‘tourist’ things to do in a regular travel guide. Much of what we actually see when we travel so do your due diligence and research a little more on the destinations you visit. What do locals really get up to, what traditional foods do they eat, what are their traditions? Where can I get a feel of these things? Real cultural experiences aren;t always the easiest to come by, as they are usually hidden behind the facade of performative businesses and gestures that aim to please us as tourists and feed into consumerism, but that conversation is for another day! 

Not to say it isn’t interesting to do things and see places that you see others share regularly, but try to make the effort (where possible) to be mindful of what is beneath the surface level it comes to immersing yourself in a new environment and culture. 

Immersing yourself in another culture always involves the act of supporting local businesses. I find that I always gain the best encounter with local people in settings such as hole-in-the-wall restaurants, locally-owned boutiques, and family-run grocery stores.

LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE

Making the effort to learn a new language can do you and others a world of good, especially if you want to connect and communicate with locals. Being mindful of others, especially in a new setting, can involve engaging with those you encounter on your journeys. Even if it's memorising and practicing basic phrases to help you greet others, introduce yourself, or ask the most basic of questions, these simple gestures can make a world of difference. You are as result showing locals that you are indeed intrigued and respectful of their culture which they will deeply appreciate. You can start to connect and learn from these people, cultivating a deeper understanding of their perspectives and how theirs differs from your own.

MINIMISE SCREEN TIME & UNPLUG FROM SOCIAL MEDIA

The act of being and feeling present plays a big part here. In today’s society we tend to share a lot of our travels on social media. I mean, who doesn’t like a pretty sunset picture? However, sometimes we can become a little too fixated on sharing your every move which in turn causes us to miss out on experiences and moments. 

I love to take pictures as I’m really into travel photography, but I’ve started to become a little more selective with what I take pictures of because it’s easy to become engrossed in getting the perfect shot. One tip is to pretend you’re using a film camera (if you’re not already),  limiting myself to 30 pictures (the amount most film roles allow you to shoot) and once I’m done that’s it. Lessen the screen time by putting your phone down for a while, forget the emails, pay no mind to app alerts, or non-urgent text messages. Don’t rely on Google maps to help you get around, this opens up the opportunity to get lost and discover interesting places and things along the way. You also get the chance to chime into your senses–What sounds and smells are most vivid to you? What settings are visually catching your eye?

SLOW DOWN, TAKE YOUR TIME

Take time to be in touch with the deep sense of wonder and inspiration behind your love of travel. Slowly immerse yourself in daily activities; make time for that afternoon walk or visiting the small café that caught your eye the other day. Do not feel pressured to rush and experience everything. You risk the chance of setting yourself up for disappointment. Authentic travel experiences unfold when you slow down and allow space for the unknown. 

Allow some space in your itinerary in order to deeply appreciate the activities you want to experience. You can even leave an afternoo n or too free to wander and see where your curiosities and feet take you. Don;t burn yourself out by rushing from one attraction to another, it’s never the best way to explore or mindfully experience as a destination. 

As we all lead such different lives we can interpret the term slow travel in ways that benefits us. Slow travel doesn’t necessarily have to embody the act of travel for longer if our lives back home can’t accommodate that. Being able to use travel in a way that will help you learn and experience will suffice too. Try to be in touch with the deeper sense of wonder and inspiration behind your love for travel, and make the time and space for authentic experience and they’ll be bound to find you. 

MAKE AN EFFORT TO MINIMISE YOUR IMPACT AS A TRAVELLER

By now we should all know that travel isn’t the best when it comes to the impact it has on the earth. 

Even for someone like me who likes to travel I’m starting to become more conscious about the impact I have as a traveller. Be sure to research one way you can minimise your impact prior to your travels in order to be well prepared. Here are a few simple tips to have in mind when you do look embark on a new journey in the future:

• Pack sustainable and recyclable essentials and  tools such as bamboo straw, reusable face pads, cutlery, water bottles, bags etc.

• Walk or take public transports, or simply hire a bike to ride around the place you visit (a personal favorite activity of mine).

• Take fewer flights where possible. 

• Travel longer if you are able to.

• Never litter (big pet peeve of mine)!
  

We may engage in habits that create unnecessary waste, even if we wouldn’t normally do the same at home.

KEEP A TRAVEL JOURNAL

Keeping a journal while you travel one thing I always recommend people do. Taking time to write daily helps you to:

• Tune into surroundings in a meaningful way–creating stronger connections to the place you are in.

• Paying attention to small details you may have missed.

• Make meaning from your experiences.

• Slow down.

• Recollect past travel experiences and observations more vividly.

• Get to know yourself on a deeper level through self-discovery.

ACCEPT & EMBRACE CHANGE OR SETBACKS

No matter how fascinating travelling can be, we know that travel often doesn’t unfold as expected, and we can experience challenges along the way. It is best to take these mishaps on the chin and keep on going–you never know what these situations can teach you. Not every detail of your travel plan needs to run smoothly or stay the same.

SIMPLY OBSERVE

Finding a spot to sit and making yourself comfortable in order to simply observe is a great and easy way to practice  mindfulness. Your mind will in most cases just stay present as you watch people walk by, chat to each other. Your senses heighten, the smells roll in, the various sounds near and far create an orchestra around you, you start to notice how people interact with each other, how they dress, and how they maneuver around their surroundings. 

REFLECT AND SHOW GRATITUDE

Reflecting on your travels can be as easy as sitting down at the end of each day and thinking about how it all went. Even if it’s a few minutes, reflect on your mood, challenges you may have faced, or things that excited you and made you smile. You can journal these thoughts and experiences, or even blog and vlog about them. Bonus is, these methods can be very therapeutic, which can do a world of good in unfamiliar situations.

It’s also important to remind yourself now and again that being able to travel can be an opportunity of a lifetime; not everyone has the chance to experience such. Gratitude allows you to add a level of appreciation and mindfulness to your journey.

Ultimately, being a mindful traveller enables you to create meaningful travel experiences. Know that if you venture with reality in mind you open up the opportunity to navigate your journeys in a mindful manner, as your awareness will help you control your responses. Be mindful of your attitude, of others, your surroundings, the different cultures you choose to immerse yourself in, and of where you choose to spend your money. The next time you pack your belongings and set off on a new journey, look back at these mindful tips to practice. The chance to achieve more fulfilling and meaningful travel experiences is yours, so be willing to learn how to just be and live in the moment.