Faced with the continuously high number of confirmed cases, staying at home to fight the epidemic has become our daily routine, apart from work and purchasing necessities. The frequency of meeting friends and going on dates has greatly decreased, and how long ago was the last time you traveled abroad? Do you still remember? The never-ending epidemic has made traveling seem like an impossible dream! I believe everyone has many places they want to visit and check off their travel bucket list, but who knows when these goals can be achieved one by one. You can only browse online pictures and videos, making you, who loves to travel with your eyes, feel helpless. Recently, the travel website Lonely Planet has combined the opinions of over 300 experts to bring 10 ways to satisfy your travel addiction for those who cannot travel. If you are feeling depressed and frustrated, take a look immediately!
1. Accept the changes in the real world
Many people hope that the global pandemic will disappear within a few months, but unfortunately, experts believe it may take 1 to 2 years to return to normal. Psychologist Thomas Plante suggests that we need to be mentally prepared as we will be living in a world different from the past, and our future way of traveling may also change as a result.
2. Change alternative ways of thinking and look to the future
After accepting the fact that we are unable to embark on a journey in the near future, why not change our way of thinking and plan for the next trip. First, think about what you hope to gain from the next journey, and then prepare well. Replace the current disappointment and negative emotions of not being able to go abroad with a positive attitude, which helps to avoid falling into negative thinking patterns.
3. Organize your past travel photos well.
After each trip, in addition to bringing back a bunch of souvenirs and mementos, I also took a huge amount of photos! For those of you who are usually too busy to deal with travel photos, take advantage of this time to organize them properly, and you can also reminisce about the happy memories of past journeys!
4. Communicate more with foreign friends
Although unable to be in a foreign country, through communication with friends from all over the world, we can still exchange cultures with each other, especially in this age of advanced internet, we can contact friends anytime and anywhere, and deepen our understanding of the local culture through conversation.
5. Learn knowledge applicable to future travel.
The focus should be on future journeys, experts suggest taking this time to learn some knowledge or skills that will be useful for future travels, such as learning a new language or participating in relevant activities to equip yourself and prepare for future journeys.
6. Take a simple local trip
During the epidemic, in addition to relieving daily stress by having a staycation on weekends, there are actually many local places worth exploring. Why not take this time to discover and deepen your understanding of the place where you live? It may bring you unexpected surprises!
7. Try to appreciate the city you live in from different perspectives.
The reason why travel is so anticipated is because it allows us to explore unknown scenery! Although everyone is quite familiar with the place they live, the daily routine and rhythm of life may only show you one side of the city! Try observing the city at different times, and you may see a different view from that familiar street corner!
8. Rediscover your old hobbies, or explore other new interests.
Traveling around the world may be your ultimate dream, but the world is so big, and your interests are not limited to just one. Although it is currently during a pandemic, many goals may need to be temporarily put on hold, but the free time is not meaningless. Take this opportunity to rediscover past hobbies! For example, pick up that guitar that once captivated you but was abandoned due to a busy work schedule, or learn something new that you have always wanted to try. Cultivate new interests, or even just simply read a book, all of which can bring satisfaction to your soul! You will find that your world is actually much broader than you imagined!
9. Be grateful for the travels you once had, rediscover your sense of happiness.
Unable to embark on the long-awaited journey is truly disappointing, but instead of focusing on what is temporarily lost, it is better to think about the goals that have been achieved. At the same time, remind yourself that there are many people around the world who have never set foot in another country, while we have been fortunate enough to travel everywhere. Don’t forget that we are actually luckier than many others, so always keep a grateful heart and face current challenges with a positive mindset!
10. Make good use of the time when you temporarily stop to prepare for the next journey.
Rest is for walking a longer road. During the days when you cannot travel abroad, you can save up your travel fund, write down your travel list, learn to cook foreign dishes, and even embark on virtual travel through the internet, all of which will help you prepare and embark on a fulfilling journey more smoothly in the future!
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