Have you ever felt like you need a break from everything and everyone and go somewhere on your own to find some peace and quiet? Life can get quite hectic and stressful and sometimes finding time for ourselves can be a challenge. Taking small breaks to relax such as going a day to the spa or going for a weekend break can help to recharge your batteries but sometimes this is not enough. Due to challenging life experiences, a person may feel the need to reconnect with themselves and restore their inner peace. Leaving everything behind and going in search for this abroad is one way of achieving this state.

There could be several reasons why a person ends up going on a trip on their own. Friends might be unavailable to join due to financial, family or work commitments. Taking time off can be an issue for some or simply not being able to find people who want to do the same experiences as you. Thus, whether it is because you cannot find people to travel with or because you want it yourself, solo travelling might be the answer for you. It can be quite scary to think of travelling on your own especially if you have never done it before. Yet, it can also be very exciting to venture the world the way you want to.

Travelling solo can be a very enriching experience if you are open to the world and the people in it. Most people think that going on a trip on your own makes you a lonely person. This is not the case. When you travel solo you are lonely as much as you want to be. Sure, it will entail getting out of your comfort zone but this will help you grow. You will have to talk to new people and perhaps approach them yourselves. The beauty in all this is that you get to talk to people from different cultures and learn about different ways of doing things. This helps you to become more open-minded.

When you travel on your own you learn so much about yourself because you find yourself in situations where you cannot rely on others and have to figure it all out individually. Although this can be challenging, it also shows you that you do not need to rely on anyone else but can develop new skills to help you deal with challenges. It helps you to become an independent person and learn that as long as you have yourself, you will be okay in life. Sharing moments with other people can be very special but this does not always have to be the case. You will also quickly realise that doing things the way you want to and not having to compromise about anything has its advantages too.

If you were always intrigued by the idea of travelling solo but are scared to do so, start small. Go for a weekend close by on your own to see how it feels. It might not be for everyone but for those who immerse in the experience of solo travelling it can be one of the best things you end up doing for yourself.

Dr Marilyn Muscat is registered as an Educational Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council in the United Kingdom where she trained. She works with children, adolescents and their families to understand more about educational, social and emotional well-being concerns that they have and to help them improve upon their difficulties. She can be contacted on marilyn@willingness.com.mt or call us on 79291817.