You don't have to depend on people to come along:
Most of us have a mental block. We're not sure if it's going to be fun, if we'll miss our partner or our friends or will just get bored traveling alone. All of us have bucket lists full of places that we never get around to visiting. We keep waiting for our friends and family to be available to travel. But it's really all about taking the first step. Once you decide to take the plunge alone, nothing will ever keep you from traveling again!
You can make the trip all about you!
Women juggle so much in their lives everyday. When you're traveling alone, you don't need to worry about pleasing anyone, compromising with anyone or doing things that make other people happy. You can eat what you like, when you like, go where you want and just spend time doing everything that makes you tick!
You will learn so much:
There's so much to learn while traveling alone! You'll learn to be independent, to take better decisions, and to plan your day- all by yourself. One of the most important lessons learnt while traveling alone is that you'll be careful where and how you spend your money. When we're traveling alone and on a budget, we ask ourselves before splurging, before buying things we don't need and we manage our money like experts. Spending money judiciously is one of the most important lessons learnt while traveling alone. You'll learn to be more observant, to be more careful about your safety, and to open up to new people.
You'll end up making so many friends!
When traveling alone, one tends to interact with other solo travelers, instead of sticking to the company they're with. You'll end up experiencing different things with different people, and it's one of the most unbinding things about solo travel. The best part is learning and adapting to different kinds of people. Travel exposes you not just to locals, but also to travels from other parts of the world. You'll learn about new cultures and becoming more accepting of people and their backgrounds. You're always more approachable when you're traveling alone, and that can make all the difference!
You will come home a changed person:
After a week spent alone, you'll have a lot of time to reflect on things, take a break from everyone and everything to just be you. You'll understand yourself better, focus on what gives you happiness, learn to discard what doesn't. When you get back, a much more confident, independent person will walk through the doors!
You'll learn to look out for yourself:
We depend on other people for so many things, without even realizing. The smallest example is carrying your own luggage, being responsible for your travel documents, making sure you don't miss your trains or buses, waking up and making it out the door on time. You'll get out in the real world and take on serious responsibility for yourself. A small step like that can go a long way in shaping your life!
This blog was originally published on Stumbling Around Delhi.