It is not as scary as you think, so just do it!
You might have heard a lot of people talking about solo travel and the positive impact it brings to one’s life. Travelling solo is more than just travelling. Without a companion by your side, you’ll get to experience many things including the fear of getting lonely, the safety concerns; all of these are used as roadblocks on the path to what could be a truly wonderful, life-changing adventure.
Solo travel is an incredible experience and one that every backpacker should experience at least once in their lifetime. Therefore, here are the top 5 reasons why travelling alone is absolutely awesome, and why you should do it if you have the chance.
1. Taking full responsibility for your life
You heard it right! Taking care of yourself in distress times is crucial, and you can improve it by taking your first solo trip. Since it is going to be you on the way of your journey, all your senses get alerted. And you assume full responsibility for your life.
It helps you understand and celebrate life in many ways. You will become more responsible for the decisions and choices you make in your life, which allows you to realize that whatever happens to you in life is because of your decisions and choices. So you need to choose them carefully. Self-awareness is important in life.
2. Knowing and understanding your sense of self
While on a solo trip, you will tend to understand more about yourself day by day. You will know about your characteristics and traits including your likes and dislikes, strengths, and weaknesses.
Most of the times you will be busy with your daily job and routine, you won’t get enough time to know yourself better. Taking a solo trip will give your ‘me time’, and you will get some of the answers you were seeking for in life.
3. You will meet more locals and see more of the culture
Unable to rely on your traveling partners, you will have to turn to the locals, whether you’re looking for human interaction or not.
A solo traveler can also seem more approachable. If you’re with a partner or friend, it’s tempting to talk mostly with each other, and outsiders might not want to impose. But if you’re by yourself, it’s often easier for someone else to strike up a conversation with you (or vice versa).
4. Stepping out of your comfort zone and developing confidence
By being forced out of your comfort zone and having to deal with unexpected events and unpredictable experiences, you will come to know yourself intimately whether you want to or not. You won’t need to ask yourself what you would do in a tight spot, or what type of person you are when things happen and you have to deal with them, you will know because you will have been there and done it.
Obviously, sometimes things will inevitably go wrong on a backpacking trip, however, you will learn very quickly in terms of how you deal with these incidents that matter, and how you overcome the challenges is what helps build and shape your character. You really don’t know what you are capable of doing until you do it, and solo travel builds your self-confidence and reliance to the point that you know intrinsically that you can handle anything life throws at you. You’ll gain the experience, the self-understanding and confidence to know that even when you get back home, the experience and knowledge you have gained when backpacking can be applied to any situation. In short, backpacking solo will make you a better, more rounded and more confident person.
5. Making your very own memories and stories
Going on a solo trip today will be a well-captured memory tomorrow. You will have a great story to tell people, and you will cherish it forever. Many people live life, a normal one. But what makes a difference is taking time for yourself to make some wonderful memories so that you can share them with your family and friends.
Waiting for others to do the same thing at the same time would mean that you would never see your dreams come true. Take a solo trip and plan it today. After all, it is not as difficult or scary to do it, just start now!
What are your perspectives on travelling alone? Let us know in the comments below!
Header image: Medium
