Aldrich InfantadoLooking for a compelling reason to travel? Whether you’ve recently graduated, started a new job, or are still in school, exploring the world in your youth should be a top priority. Travelling offers more than just exciting adventures; it provides valuable lessons and experiences that can shape your perspective on life. Plus, embarking on journeys early in life can lead to unforgettable experiences that may never be replicated as you get older.
Also read: 5 Reasons to Travel the World in Your Twenties
Technically, I’m still a millennial, but I’m no spring chicken, and I had quite a ton of life-changing travel experiences in my younger days that transformed me into a better person. If you had the chance to travel more right now, I’m strongly urging you to do it. Not only is travel packed with fun and smiles, but it can help you become a little wiser, stronger and more open-minded as well.
Travel keeps you sane
Once you start working, your life can feel like a constant whirlwind of meetings, deadlines, and paperwork. Your precious free time will be limited, and even when you’re not officially working, you might find yourself thinking about your assignments or dealing with emails.
Travelling can be a great way to prevent burnout and escape the stresses of daily life. Whether you love your job or are simply doing it for survival, rewarding yourself with adventures and life-changing experiences can make your workload more bearable.
The world is wide, and life is short
As the great and notable Benjamin Franklin once said, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today”. Life is short, and we may never have another opportunity to explore our beautiful planet. Although I don’t want to sound pessimistic, the reality is that there’s no guarantee of a long life.
Even if you’re in excellent health, an unexpected accident can change your life in an instant, preventing you from seeing all the places you’ve dreamed of visiting. Remember the tragic fate of the main character in the film “Me Before You”? The world is a vast place, and it might take a lifetime for us, as ordinary Filipinos, to explore it all.
Also read: How a Painful and Traumatic Health Threat Pushed Me To Travel More
A world of heart-pumping adventures
There are a lot of different outdoor adventures that are simply impossible to do when you are older, including epic mountain treks, cliff dives and even zipline rides. However, when you’re healthy and young, your body can handle almost everything you throw it. With a healthy pair of knees and an enthusiastic adventurous spirit, you are going to have dozens of unforgettable and spine-tingling outdoors at this stage of your life.
There are many outdoor adventures that are simply impossible to do when you’re older, such as epic mountain treks, cliff diving, and ziplining. However, when you’re young and healthy, your body can handle almost anything you throw at it. With a healthy pair of knees and an adventurous spirit, you’ll have countless unforgettable and thrilling outdoor experiences during this stage of your life.
You’ll look good in your swimsuit (not for everybody, though)
Seriously, though, a healthy and fit physique won’t come easy when you get older. With a metabolism as fast as Japan’s bullet trains, you may look pretty good in your swimsuit in your younger days. Don’t forget to go slow on sweets and carbs, though, if you really want to turn heads on the beach.
It will make you more independent
There’s no feeling quite like being far away from home and realising how much you’ve been relying on others. When you travel without loved ones, you’re forced to find your own way, take care of yourself, and become more independent.
Can you cook your own meals or do your own laundry? Believe me, travelling when you’re young will help you develop a few essential survival and life skills.
Climate change
Sadly, with today’s extreme weather and the increasing effects of global warming, there are a few places on the face of the earth that may not be around in the near future.
Fewer commitments and responsibilities
Want to backpack across Southeast Asia? Want to explore all the 81 provinces in the Philippines? There’s nothing big that’s holding you back if you travel at this stage of your life. Unless you’re fostering a bunch of kids, you really don’t have to work so hard, to put food on the table. You don’t have plenty of bills to pay and have no long-term job position that has to be maintained.
You have a lifetime of work and stress ahead of you
Don’t get me wrong – I’m not saying that you should resign, and give up your job, so you can travel more often. Let’s face it, we need to work our butts off and earn money to survive in this world. What I’m suggesting, though, is you don’t have to rush things, as far as work. As long as you’re not picky, you won’t run out of job opportunities, even if you’re way past your 30s. And besides, you are going to work for a number of years to come.
Your work won’t end, but your youth does have an expiration date, so enjoy it to the fullest while you can.
Also read: How To Travel Frequently Despite Being Employed
It makes you more sympathetic and thankful
Most young people today are so blinded by consumerism and materialism that they forget to say thanks to the universal life force for all the graces they have received. But after passing by the remote highlands and slums of the Philippines, they will ultimately realise just how lucky and privileged they are.
Make connections across the world
You’ll expand your circle and social network as well as meet trustworthy people who might give you free accommodations or tours for your future trips.
It’s a little cheaper
When you’re healthy and young, you won’t mind staying in crammed hostel dorms, sleeping on a couch or hitchhiking your way to a destination on a rugged and dusty truck. In my life as a traveller, I have slept in many uncomfortable places, just to save a buck or two on my vacation.
A few years ago, I travelled to Boracay, together with 4 good friends, to experience this highly praised island paradise. And since we were on a tight budget, we decided to sleep in a friend’s apartment, to reduce our travel expenses.
Little did we know, there was only one bed to accommodate all 5 of us. Honestly, it wasn’t the cosiest accommodations, but it did help us a ton of money for our 2-day-3-night Boracay escapade.
Also read: 9 Ways to Get Free Accommodation While Travelling
And I’ve also done quite a lot of hitchhiking in my life as a traveller. As a matter of fact, I’ve just done it recently after our hike in Mount Babag and Sirao Peak with my hiking buddies – Sheng, Christine, Kevin, Wilfred and Donna.
But, I know the gift of youth doesn’t last forever, and sooner or later, I will no longer have the privilege to do these things. As our age increases, comfort starts to become a priority, and we may become more accustomed to luxurious stuff, making travel a more expensive pastime.
Travel improves your social and problem-solving skills
Travel isn’t always rainbows and butterflies. From language barrier to delayed flights, there are many unforeseen hiccups along the way, on the road. But at the end of the day, these stumbling blocks will teach you some important skills that will come in handy in your life. It has, thus far, improved my problem-solving skills as well as took my confidence level up a few notches. I was an introvert, and travel has drastically improved my social skills.
Also read: Travel to Help the World: Voluntour in Southeast Asia
Contributed by The Bisaya Traveler
