Last weekend, I had the fortunate opportunity of traveling ALONE to the wonderful city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Since this was my first time in a big city by myself, I took advantage of every unique opportunity to explore all the offerings of this city. So what does this have to do with health and wellness? A lot! When I started thinking about how amazing I felt after my trip, I realized that the reasons aligned with the 8 Dimensions of Wellness that we try to promote here at Student Wellness.
Cultural
When you travel—even to other places in the U.S.–you have the opportunity to completely immerse yourself in a new culture. While I was in Minneapolis, I looked at some wonderful local, national, global, and historic art at 3 different museums! I was so amazed at this city’s dedication and appreciation for the arts, especially their emphasis on spreading it to younger people. I stumbled across so many art programs and theatres specifically targeted to children, and I myself, participated in a program to get discounted tickets to watch “Othello” at the Guthrie Theatre. The cultural exploration didn’t stop there. I wandered over to Eat Street for an authentic ethnic food experience, learned about the large Somali community, and talked to several locals who taught me about their local culture and appreciation for the cold weather which manifests as massive winter festivals, dog sled races, and ice sculpting!
Emotional
Traveling is truly an escape. You get to set aside your daily responsibilities and have some “me time.” This could involve relaxation or exploration or both (relaxploration!). Regardless, you only have to deal with one schedule – your own. You get to do whatever you want, in your own time. This is a great stress relief! In addition to stress relief, some studies show that anticipating upcoming travel correlates to happiness and that time spent alone can “ward off depression in young people.”
I did a great deal of relaxploration. I had to accept that I was in a new city surrounded by people who call it home. I became very comfortable asking for help and suggestions of things to do. I found the perfect spot on a bridge over the Mississippi River and watched the river peacefully float beneath me. I walked around Lake Calhoun and the Lake of the Isles and sipped some coffee at JJ’s Coffee and Wine Bistro while gazing out at Lake Calhoun. During all of this relaxploration, I took some time to clear my head, people-watch, and relax. When I returned to North Carolina, I noticed that I felt less overwhelmed. In fact, one study found that “after only a day or two [from returning from vacation], 89% of respondents saw significant drops in stress.”
Environmental
I immersed myself in a completely new environment! I was so pleased at the built environment of Minneapolis. They’ve got a great understanding of how to integrate urbanism with nature. In fact, urban parks are sprinkled throughout the city! Their transportation network is efficient, affordable, and very connected. I was able to travel across large spaces for a very small price. I also learned that environmental racism exists in Minneapolis, as it does in Chapel Hill, and affects the Somali neighborhoods disproportionately.
Financial I set myself a financial goal and monetary limit before I left; I told myself that I was going to try to spend the LEAST amount of money to do most everything I wanted to do. I succeeded! It’s very easy to be responsible and frugal while traveling as long as you set your own limits and stick to them. However, I want to acknowledge that the actual act of getting to your destination can be costly. Fortunately, our campus offers several means of funding transportation to our destinations such as:
UNC Global
Graduate and Professional Student Federation
The Office of Scholarships and Student Aid
The Center for Global Initiatives