As New Year’s approaches, it’s time to start deciding how we will resolve to better ourselves and the world around us in the coming year. While some may choose to exercise more or cut out sugary foods, we can relate to those who are driven by a passion to see the world. We’ve got seven inspirational quotes and benefits to fuel your resolution to travel in 2018:

“One of the gladdest moments of human life, methinks, is the departure upon a distant journey into unknown lands. Shaking off with one mighty effort the fetters of habit, the leaden weight of routine, the cloak of many cares and the slavery of home, man feels once more happy.” – Richard Burton

Travel relieves stress and anxiety. While some aspects of travel can cause stress, such as losing your passport or missing a flight, travel, in general, is shown lower anxiety and promote stress relief. It allows you to escape the worries of everyday life, set aside daily responsibilities for a while and return home with a rejuvenated mind.

“Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.” – Seneca

Travel boosts creativity. Whether you work in a creative field or not, travel opens our minds to new sights, sounds and smells that we would otherwise never experience. International travel especially sparks creative impulses in our minds and gets us thinking in new, unique ways.

“A great way to learn about your country is to leave it.” -Henry Rollins

Travel lets you learn something new. It’s often said that traveling is the best way to learn about new places and people. Not only will traveling abroad teach you about other countries, you’ll also learn about your home country. Seeing the habits and customs of another country helps you recognize how those same cultural norms are different in the United States.

“When you travel, remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable. It is designed to make its own people comfortable.” – Clifton Fadiman

Travel improves social and communication skills. Not only does traveling to a different country mean you likely won’t understand the native tongue, it will force you to communicate in new ways. Travel abroad can improve your nonverbal communication skills, make you more comfortable in unfamiliar situations and teach you to become a better listener.

“At its best, travel should challenge our preconceptions and most cherished views, cause us to rethink our assumptions, shake us a bit, make us broader minded and more understanding.” –Arthur Frommer

Travel makes you more empathetic. Going out and seeing other cultures and viewpoints changes how we think about issues we may have always assumed were black and white. Travel shows us how other people live and teaches us to see the underlying humanity in every culture.

“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” – Terry Pratchett

Travel helps you appreciate home. Often, we grow so accustomed to our home that we forget to appreciate the safety and comfort it provides us. While traveling is an adventure in itself, it also gives us a healthy dose of homesickness and appreciation for home.

“We leave something of ourselves behind when we leave a place, we stay there, even though we go away. And there are things in us that we can find again only by going back there.” – Pascal Mercier

Travel creates lifelong memories. While perhaps the most obvious benefit of travel, we cannot overlook the importance of forming memories in new places. Traveling helps us build stronger bonds with our companions and create lifelong memories. The pictures and souvenirs we bring back transport us back in time to a different place.

Feeling inspired to make 2018 the year you get out and travel the world? Let Thomas Hogan Travel help you plan out your travel adventures. Learn about our upcoming tours and cruises and our custom vacation planning services.