Why do I think traveling alone is a great form of women’s self-care.
Unless you have lived under rocks in the past few years, you have heard (or even used) the term “self care” at some time.
If you are not familiar with it, this is one of the better definitions I can find on the Internet.
“Self health care is a very positive and powerful choice to engage in the activities required to obtain or maintain the best level of overall health. In this case, overall health includes not only the body, but also the psychological, emotional, social and spiritual components of personal well-being.” Source:
In theory, self-care is very simple; It is about taking care of yourself and intentionally ensuring your well-being. However, it is not so easy to put it into practice.
Especially for women.
When I went to Mongolia alone last year
Our “fairer gender” members have gained weaknesses in many ways. We work more than men, but get less pay; We are constantly judged by our looks, marital status and reproductive choices; Even if we are more educated and capable than our male colleagues, we will still lose the election (sorry, Hillary), face and be unfairly censored.
We are expected to be nurturers and provide emotional support at the expense of our own mental and emotional health.
Although more and more of us are becoming breadwinners in our families, many of us are still expected to bake bread, buy groceries, and burp our children when we go home.
However, when you are tired by work, intimidated by social expectations, and expected to take care of others, it is difficult to take care of yourself. But I think this is necessary and we should implement it regularly.
In addition, although nourishing your happiness can be as simple as treating your own bubble bath or reading your favorite novel for a long time, I want to share why I think a person’s holiday is the best self-care that a woman can do.
It’s all about you
One of the reasons I like and advocate women traveling alone is that it gives us the ability to be selfish. Therefore, we are often expected to be selfless and defined by our status as sisters/wives/mothers/daughters – we take care of others, except ourselves.
But when you travel alone, no one needs to answer except yourself. The beauty of a vacation by yourself is that you can arrange your day according to your idea: there is no argument about where to eat in the evening, and there is no objection to visiting the obscure museum you have been paying attention to since your arrival. You can freely experience the destination you like without catering to the wishes and desires of others. You make decisions, you give orders. This is very powerful.
Doro who rolls alone in India
You can charge your battery without interference
Whether you take a 12-hour flight or a 30-minute bus home, separate from your daily life — and those who “need” you — can give you space to relax and recharge. You will be surprised to find that when you consciously keep yourself away and put yourself first, people actually rarely need you: problems can be solved without your input, and disasters that usually require your assistance suddenly become less disastrous.
This leaves you with mental, emotional and physical energy, allowing you to find your surroundings leisurely without extra “noise” or “luggage”. You can give up the job of a breeder, take on the job of an explorer, and fully participate in activities that bring you happiness and bring you back to the center (such as yoga, hiking, etc.).
You can be the person you want to be
I like to travel alone, not only because I can do what I want to do when I want to, but also because I am not limited or hindered by the opinions or expectations of friends, family or colleagues who claim to “know me”.
In our social and professional circles, our women often conform to certain expectations or stereotypes because they are afraid of acting “too strong” (read as “bitch”) and other things. In short, we must “play games” to be accepted, which is ridiculous and tiring.
Alone in the Atacama Desert in Chile
When I travel alone, I can be the person I want to be — whether it’s the eccentric extroverted daredevil who dances on the bar table or the introvert who retreats to the hotel room with a good book after a long day of sightseeing alone.
My view is that we can change our identity as we change our T-shirts — a separate holiday away from the surveillance of friends and acquaintances gives us the opportunity to explore all aspects of ourselves, because we are afraid of being judged. Since our overall health depends on our mental and emotional health, it is important to know who we are and/or reshape ourselves.
Travel alone=women’s great self-care
Regardless of your age, income level, marital status or fertility status, traveling alone is something every woman should do at some time. This is the ultimate form of self-care: the best way to re-focus on our unique needs and desires, the best way to build confidence, independence and resilience, and the necessary conditions to shape us as individuals.
What do you think of this problem?