Some Tips For Introverted Solo Travellers
In September 2017, I moved to Europe and found myself taking advantage of the accessibility and easiness of local travel. Coming from Australia, the idea of catching a train for a couple hours and being in a new country was crazy, yet now it was possible, affordable and easy. I began travelling alone, and despite having some challenges at the start, really began to enjoy it.
As a heavy introvert myself, solo travel has been a difficult process. However, once I started to break down what was challenging to me, I realised a lot of these things related to perception from other people. In the modern, digital and ‘social’ age, you can lose track of what you are doing, what you want to do and also feel you ‘have’ to do things because of other people.
This isn’t the case.
- Go At Your Pace
This is your trip, your adventure and you can choose the pace you do things. Whether it is taking half a day to explore and relax in a park, walking around the entire city or sitting by a swimming pool with a drink – go at your speed and Be You!
Try not to over-plan your trip, focus on exploring and giving yourself the options to slow down or speed back up.
- Have a Solo Hobby
Everyone is different, and although some are totally fine with wandering around a foreign and new environment, others need a form of activity to help them adapt. Whether it is photography, visiting specific stores (I love visiting foreign guitar shops), trying to learn a new language or seeing specific attractions – try to bring your interests to your travel.
I always spend time listening to buskers and live music and this combines well with my love for cities that are easy to walk in. Exploring city squares, live music venues and the odd second-hand music instrument shops help inspire my lyric writing and gives me new ideas for new kinds of songs to write.
Solo travel can get boring, you are by yourself the majority of the time and you’ll find that time slows down as you move at your pace. A hobby gives you more purpose and meaning when visiting somewhere completely new.
- Take A Break
Whether it is a short or extended trip, it can be very exhausting as you are exposed to a lot of new environments, languages and culture. It is completely normal to take a day or more to rest and give yourself the time and energy for your solo travel.
Many travellers here may feel they are ‘wasting’ their trip by resting but being by yourself in a new place can be very tiresome. Give yourself the time and go at your own pace.
- Reflection
The best bit I have found with solo travel is the fact that I have time to completely reflect on myself and where I am up to. Whether it is sitting in a cafe with coffee, strolling through a bustling city or browsing a local shop - I found I have the time, energy and ability just to be alone with my own thoughts. Reflection and meditation has become really important for me. Taking the time to think, see where I have gotten to, the decisions I have made and why I am feeling a certain way about things has been a lot easier when I am in a new environment and away from normality.
This gives me strength and refreshes me mentally, and so returning back my ‘business-as-usual’ life after travel is a bit easier.
I think this just about covers it, and this hopefully has given you some ideas of what to expect when you travel alone. I’d love to hear your tips and advice as well, either send a message to me or comment under this post!
Submitted January 02, 2019 at 06:57AM by TheDreamTraveler http://bit.ly/2R5BnFE
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