Travel Wellness Archives

Here at The SoFe Traveler Network, we know self-care at home is important, but we have another idea of what taking care of yourself can look like. When we think of self-care and avoiding burnout, we think of travel!

“Wait, hold up” you might say…
“I’m not a digital nomad, I can’t leave my job or take several weeks off!”

We get it… but we may actually have a solution for you…

We’re here to help you navigate the options on how you can take some time to travel, as well as how it can become the best form of self-care you have ever experienced.

Travel Is The Cure To Burnout No Matter Your Lifestyle

Sometimes squeezing in time to travel can be challenging and expensive. Everyone gets busy and many people have different lifestyles where they prioritize different needs! Oftentimes people can’t take much time off or can’t afford to travel at all. Many people think travel is expensive and unattainable. A huge shift can happen when you create the mindset that you CAN make travel happen!

Here are a handful of options if you want to prioritize travel and spark more joy in your life.

Traveling on a Budget

There is an assumption that traveling will cost thousands of dollars and deplete your bank account. One way to avoid that is by traveling close to home instead of flying across the world. This can c ut down on the costs associated with traveling immensely. Another way to travel cheaply is by staying at hostels instead of hotels or Airbnbs. Many hostels around the world offer dorm beds for $10-$20 a night. You can also cut down on expenses by booking a flight to a more affordable country. Places like Ecuador, Indonesia and Vietnam can cost you $30 a day for both accommodation and food once you arrive. For affordable accommodation options around the world, explore Hostelworld. You can also use our free travel budget planner to calculate your trip costs and savings.

Busy Gal 9-5

You might be a super career-oriented woman who is very tied to your job and it might be hard for you to take a lot of time off of work. If you really want to make travel happen, take advantage of your vacation time and book a one week vacation to rest and recharge. If you can’t pull that off, take a long weekend to a nearby town or city you have never been to. Stay at a guesthouse, enjoy the local cuisine and explore nearby museums. Disconnecting completely in a new destination for two to three days will actually help you avoid burnout and reignite your creativity and energy for your work.

I Hate My Job & I’m Broke

We’ve heard this one before. Many people hate their jobs and don’t make enough money. If things don’t feel good for you, consider budgeting for a few months and apply for a working holiday visa in a different country. This will give you the opportunity to leave your toxic job and besides some initial travel costs, you can start working right when you arrive. You can even apply for jobs ahead of time! We recommend checking out New Zealand or Australia for a working holiday visa. Learn more about working holiday visa eligibility in New Zealand and Australia to apply for the trip of a lifetime!

Weekend Trip in Nature

Travel doesn’t always have to be far away from home or a plane ride away. If you want to avoid burnout after a busy week, nothing is better than hitting the trail on a short backpacking trip or camping by the river for a few days. This is a form of travel that is much more attainable since it can be close to home and oftentimes camping and backpacking include free campsites and endless views. Download the iOverlander app to find your next free camping destination close to home!

How Travel Cures Burnout

Now that we have thrown out some options on how you can make travel work, we want to let you know how it can drastically improve your life. Traveling is such a fulfilling way to reset and take care of yourself when work or life is grinding you down.

Slowing Down

One of the reasons why traveling can be a form of self-care is because it can truly help you slow down. Slowing down during long-term travel or a short vacation can allow you to completely rest and recharge. By stepping away from daily routines and being as present as possible, you can explore a new place with a different perspective and “be” rather than “do”.

Explore a Different Culture

One of the most unique aspects of traveling is when you can step outside of your comfort zone in a culture that is completely different from yours. If you have the opportunity to travel to remote places in the world or different continents, it can be life-changing. Experiencing new cultures can spark curiosity and help you have a better understanding of the world. Browse the Solo Female Traveler Meetup Tours for inspiration on different cultures to explore.

Physical Activity in Nature

Traveling to beautiful places outside such as national parks or remote mountains is another optimal way to take care of yourself. Summiting a peak, biking through redwood forests or swimming in a tropical sea can boost serotonin levels in your body. Being outside and getting exercise is the ultimate way to avoid burnout and take care of yourself when things seem to be overwhelming in life. Turn off your cell phone and enjoy what nature has to offer!

Personal Growth

Taking time to travel (especially solo travel) can be one of the best forms of personal growth. Traveling can help you build confidence in new situations and help tackle obstacles while staying flexible. These experiences can help you become more self-reliant and traveling alone can help you reflect on what you want most out of life. Use the Day One App as a travel diary to write, reflect and keep track of memories throughout your journey.

Spark Your Creative Side

When you dive into a new environment while traveling, it can inspire you in so many different ways. By experiencing a rich culture, traditional music and meeting new people, you can get back in touch with a creative side of yourself. When you step away from the monotonous routine you have at home and travel, you give yourself the opportunity for new experiences. Whether you want to learn a new language, write about your travels or dance to music, travel inspires creativity and joy.

Get Better Help

Here at The Solo Female Traveler Network we believe that travel and prioritizing your needs is the best way to take care of yourself. Your well-being matters which is why we’ve partnered with BetterHelp. If you are feeling burnt out and want to invest in affordable therapy, we can offer a 25% discount on your first month. We hope you can carve more time for yourself to rest, recharge, travel and deep dive into growing and healing with BetterHelp. Grab your calendar, plan ahead, take care of yourself and book that flight or weekend trip!

Want to begin solo female travel, but nervous to take the plunge? Gain confidence to brave the world on your own with 8 easy steps to take you from housebound to solo female traveler extraordinaire.

We all hold a certain version of ourselves in our heads. A version that ‘defines’ who we are. When we hear the term “solo female travel” thoughts may pass through our minds, unknowingly hindering us from reaching our full potential. Well meaning family say “It’s too dangerous for you to travel alone,” and friends might ask “Wouldn’t you get bored all by yourself?” You may find yourself thinking, “Well, it’s just not for me.”

I remember the first time I thought about solo traveling as a woman. It was after a friend had returned from a solo trip to the Philippines, and I remember seeing her photos and thinking it looked like so much fun -but she was insane for doing it alone! Solo traveling was never thought that it was something I could do. Personally, I’ve found that limiting myself to that version of me has only made me regret not getting out of my comfort zone sooner. Unlearn the version of yourself that you have in your head. It doesn’t matter “who” you are – if you want to travel, you should fulfill your dreams. Start by with these steps, and soon you’ll become a fully fledged solo traveler.

1. Join up with solo female travel groups online

Many SoFe members became solo travelers because of the stories and support they found on The Solo Female Traveler Network. The sense of community is truly inspirational, and the heartfelt, authentic messages that come through motivate us to journey out into the world. If we see other people doing it, it becomes easier to imagine ourselves doing it. Read articles on brave women who don’t let anything hold them back, like Chelsea Lew who travels while bing both deaf and blind. Follow solo female travelers on social media, and read books written by solo female travels. We recommend avoiding travelers who over-glamorize travel, and learn instead from women who share honest truths and insights.

2. start close to home.

One of the first things you can do to start getting a feel for solo travel is to take explore your own home city. Date yourself! This way, you can get to know yourself. Ask yourself what you want to do. Start with something small, like a comedy club, a movie, or a community event. In my hometown, we had concerts in the park every week over summer. I used to go alone, and at places like this, it wasn’t unusual. Everyone was out enjoying the sun, swaying to the music, and bonding over cover bands during hot summer nights. Going out for adventures in your own city can help give you the confidence to know that you can do it, no matter how uncomfortable you may be when you first start.

3. go for a meal by yourself

One of the most intimidating things for many solo travelers is eating out by themselves. Oftentimes, it has a stigma attached to it that many of us have to work hard to unlearn. So, take yourself out to eat. Whether you plan a fancy dinner date or decide to grab a bite at your favorite taco truck, try to spend time getting comfortable not only eating, but enjoying your ‘meal for one’ with only your own company. Sometimes I like to journal or read while waiting for my food. If you’re looking for conversation, a good tip is to sit at the bar – there’s often other people eating there alone.

4. book a solo weekend away.

You’ve ventured out in your home city, and the thought of eating alone no longer scares you – now it’s time to go on a weekend trip! This is where you really start enjoying your own solitude and realise one of the fundamentals about solo travel: what you think you want, when you’re around people, may actually look different to what you actually want. We’re influenced by other people’s opinions, energy and mere presence more on a daily basis. Solitude gives us the clarity to discover who we really are.

5. learn when you need social interaction

It’s one thing to take yourself out alone for a night. It’s another thing to do it all weekend. Some people prefer to be by themselves for longer, while others thrive off meeting people. Solo traveling can feel lonely sometimes, but rest assured, you have friends just waiting to meet you in all corners of the world. When you feel like company and your book or podcast just isn’t cutting it, then it’s time to reach out to the communities around you.

Put your phone down. As tempting as it is to use curb anxiety by scrolling on your phone, its counterintuitive to forming real-life social connections. Phones, headphones and books are all ‘avoidant’ social cues, and people will assume that you do not want to engage.

Join in on an activity. People bond over doing things together. Search on Facebook for hiking groups, yoga classes and craft makers, leaning into your interests. Your passions are the roadmap to meeting diverse people connected by common interests – no more small talk!

Make a social goal for yourself. For example, when you go to an event or gathering, aim to talk to at least three people. It could be as simple as giving someone a small compliment; you never know out of which interactions friendships will blossom. Of course, do this all with the same safety precautions you always adhere to when by yourself.

Allow yourself to be spontaneous. Say yes to opportunities and events that your first instinct is to say ‘”no” to. That response has everything to do with the limiting ‘version’ we have of ourselves in our heads, and being open to changing plans leads on to encounters and experiences we would never have expected. This is where the real magic of travel lies!

Read: How to Handle Loneliness as Solo Traveler

6. Join a group tour

If you’re still unsure about traveling by yourself, then join up with a group tour. Sometimes we all need a small push before we decide to take the leap. Tours are the perfect way to dip your toe in the water. You’re able to meet other travelers who are also going solo, and often find yourself making plans to meet up again in the future.

P.S: You can come with us! We travel all over the world with solo women just like you. Check out our Meetup Tour destination list.

7. set yourself some deadlines

A dream is just a dream without a plan. Jot down your bucket list travel destinations, and collect images that inspire you of places you want to see and experiences you’d like to have. Start researching flights, accommodation costs and transport. Once you have a budget to work off, you can make a saving plan and start working towards your trip. If budget is a concern, get some budget tips and download our free planner.

8. book that trip!

Don’t overthink it – book the flight, the roadtrip, or cruise. If you’re feeling nervous before you travel, reach out the The Solo Network Facebook community. There are so many women posting daily who are in the same situation as you.

Conclusion: how to gain confidence to travel the world solo

Building the confidence to travel solo as a female isn’t an overnight process, but with small steps and intentional preparation, it’s entirely achievable. By addressing your fears, setting realistic goals, and celebrating each success, you’ll gradually become more comfortable navigating the world on your own. Remember, confidence grows with experience, and every trip—no matter how big or small—will contribute to your sense of independence and empowerment. Trust yourself, embrace the journey, and get ready to discover not just new places, but a stronger, more self-assured version of yourself.

Category: Travel Wellness

Is Travel The Cure For Burnout?