There are a whole host of benefits to traveling, but one of the most compelling is the ability to immerse yourself in new experiences, scenery, and cultures that are currently alien to you.
For this reason, many people say that travel broadens the mind. You develop a deep understanding of how other people live their lives and have the opportunity to soak up knowledge and wisdom that may not have been available to you back home.
It is also a perfect opportunity to transform your identity, away from the prying eyes of friends and family who might drag you back into more familiar habits.
Perhaps you have always wanted to take up yoga but were too embarrassed to do it in your hometown, or you had a feeling you would enjoy basketball, but you didn’t want to be spotted down the local sports club by your friends while you went through the inevitable learning curve.
By experimenting with new hobbies while traveling, you can add a new depth of experience to your journey, and help evolve yourself as a person.
Here are some great new hobbies to try out while you are traveling:
Take Up Basketball
One of the best hobbies you can try out while traveling is a sport. The reason for this is simple.
Sports are proven to be incredibly satisfying over time and help focus your mind on a particular game or match for an hour or so.
This can help you develop your concentration and competitive instincts while floating around different locations without a strict routine. This prevents you from becoming lazy or sloth-like and re-energizes your mind and body.
What’s more, a sport keeps you fit, which might be necessary if you indulge a little too much in local food and drink.
By taking up basketball training, for example, you can experience the thrill of a new sport and take a burgeoning new skillset back home with you.
Learn the Local Dialect
Another great hobby to take up while you are away traveling is to start learning the local language.
Almost everyone secretly dreams of being able to walk into a bar and start speaking fluently in another language, but many of us feel too intimidated to get started.
In reality, being immersed in the country and culture already is a huge headstart. You will be able to pick up on certain words every day, constantly experiment with new phrases you have learned, and ask locals to correct your pronunciation.
Over time, you will quickly progress because you’ll hear more of this new language than your native tongue. Your mind will become accustomed to its rhythm and help you join the language’s dots.
To fast track your progress, take up one-on-one classes with a native speaker, or join a local club to start speaking more of the dialect.
Start Doing Yoga
It might be a cliche, but yoga is a fantastic hobby to experiment with while you are away.
This is because it will help you relax and tap into hidden depths within yourself, that you may have been struggling to access back home.
While yoga can initially make you feel vulnerable, it may be easier to let go in foreign surroundings, because you know no one knows who you are.