Whether it's from the end of a relationship or the loss of a loved one having your heartbroken, put quite simply, SUCKS and as much as I wish it could, this blog post can't fix that! But hopefully, we can ease the pain a little and give you a spark of inspiration.
If you are looking to run away, travel is probably the equivalent of sticking your head in the sand and hoping it just goes away by itself, all your problems will still be there when you get home and leave you feeling confused. However, if you take your new found opportunity to travel by the proverbial gonads and harness all your energy into giving yourself the best experience you can, I believe travel is a strong contender for a heartbreak cure!
Here are some ways it can help you move forward...
1. Travel will help you become independent!
When you are in a relationship, it's easy to forget that you are your own person. Travel will force you to think on your own two feet and fend for yourself; you can do whatever makes you happy.
Travel should be time to figure yourself out, get to know what YOU like (or don't!) and give you time to relax. Already an independent warrior? Sweet! Travel can help you reaffirm how good it feels and boost your self-confidence.
2. New friendships and memories
You're going to meet all sorts of people on the road, you can surround yourself with like-minded people and you never know, you might find a new best friend or future travel buddy! Focusing your time on creating memories with new people is THE BEST way to prevent yourself from dwelling on the past. My favourite thing about making new friends on the road? Couches to crash on all over the world - massive bonus!
3. You have all the time in the world
Ever heard the saying 'time heals all'? Not only will going on a new adventure give you time, but it will give you distance. This will help you separate the past from the present, let go of painful memories and give you time to create new, happier ones! The risk of bumping into your ex is zilch and removing yourself from familiar surroundings that you associate with times gone by gives you confidence and space to refocus.
4. Learn a new skill
I like this one because travel makes it easy to throw yourself into gaining new skills. Yoga, volunteering, SCUBA diving- the list is endless! You can also self-teach, challenge yourself to learn the local language, write a travel journal or practice your photography skills and see how they compare from the start to the end of your trip!
5. It's a distraction!
I know I said at the beginning that using it as a distraction isn't the best idea. But hear me out on this one okay? Instead of wallowing in sadness and 'what might have been' getting out and about is a top-notch idea straight from your mum's 'handbook of life'. And trust me, it's a lot more appealing and beneficial (see above list!) to shrug off those pesky feelings of self-pity when you are opening the door to a whole new exciting world of exploration! Am I riiiight?!
6. Fall in love again
You may very well get lucky enough to meet that special someone whilst abroad but either way (and more importantly!) you might end up falling head over heels in love with travel itself. Like any important relationship in your life travel will inspire, support and bring out the best in you. It seems like a win/ win to me!
