Whether we realize it or not, we all eventually settle into a pattern that becomes a routine, influencing everything from workplace productivity to recreational pursuits. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as there can be many positives drawn from recurring behaviors that maintain or improve health and wellness. The flip side of this is that there is always the risk that people settled into routines become bored if there is not enough variety, and there is the distinct possibility that certain aspects of the routine have negative health consequences. When a change becomes necessary, it may be possible to improve health and wellness with a simple change of scenery.
It is important to point out that some massive life upheaval is not at all necessary to achieve some level of benefit from a change of scenery, as a weeklong vacation to enjoyable locales or a brief jaunt on Laughlin, NV bus tours can be more than adequate to stimulate a positive lifestyle change. Of course, it is not enough for an individual to make positive changes just by heading out of town for a few days, as there has to be a specific intent regarding the desired changes along with an understanding of how to implement those changes during the time spent away from home.
Before going into greater detail, it is valuable to understand why a simple change of scenery can help people shed the bad habits or patterns they have fallen into. The problem is one of simple association, as we have a tendency to associate familiar visual cues with certain behaviors, so it should not be all that surprising that poor dietary habits are hard to break given the presence of so many familiar cues. When someone leaves these cues behind by heading to an unfamiliar location, it is a lot like wiping the slate clean in terms of associated behaviors. With a clear intention and a desire to change, a new location is quite helpful when it comes to stimulating behavioral changes aimed at improving health and wellness.
The first step to improving health and wellness through positive lifestyle changes is to have a clear understanding of the changes that must be made. This may be accomplished by adopting a new exercise routine, a healthier diet or an increased commitment to intellectual pursuits, so the destination should reflect the desired lifestyle change in some way. A trip to Las Vegas may not be the best place to try to devote more time to literary pursuits, but it may be an ideal location to broaden one’s understanding of contemporary music. In this circumstance, having a clear purpose in mind is quite critical.
Once a location has been selected according to the specific goal, it becomes important to develop a plan that reflects an intention for positive change. During a trip to Big Sur, for example, a traveler seeking to improve their health through outdoor activities should take some time to research the various trails that take hikers up into the mountains or down to the shoreline of the Pacific Coast. Someone looking to adopt a healthier diet may likewise research local restaurants that serve health-conscious meals in order to make sure they patronize the kinds of places that will help them reach their intended goal.
Adopting new habits in favor or old ones is undeniably difficult, but that does not mean it is impossible. A change of scenery can help stimulate these kinds of changes in a significant way, and once a new habit is adopted it becomes quite difficult to fall back into any bad habits. This certainly requires a fair amount of vigilance at first, but healthy behaviors become easier to maintain the longer they are followed. Of course, the most important factor is the individual’s desire to change in the first place, as it is very unlikely for improved health and wellness to occur if a concerted effort to change does not exist.