For ages, people have known that traveling can be an incredible way to improve your health. We put all our time and energy into our jobs that we forget to get away from it all when we need a break. Daily stresses, obligations, and people can bog down our energy. Not finding time to step away can be incredibly detrimental too and has adverse health effects. However, if we follow successful people and their travel habits, we can see how much of a positive impact it has on our health.

System analyst Luis Enrique Coll always finds time to reduce his stress levels by traveling out of the country regularly. He has visited much of Central and South America, learning about their culture and rich history. By stepping away from his incredibly busy schedule, he can return to his daily duties refreshed and with a new perspective.

If we wish to be successful in our life, we must always find time to take care of ourselves. We have compiled five ways that traveling can help improve your health, and why you should consider that week-long vacation you’ve been contemplating for a while now.

Improves Your Antibodies

Imagine if you stayed in one place your entire life. You might catch a cold every so often, causing your body to build up antibodies to fight off current and future infections. Though this builds a healthy immune system, your body would only be familiar with one type of bacteria. However, imagine passively exposing yourself to different bacteria on your travels. Your body would then have to develop even more antibodies to fight off those infections. By the time you return home, your body would be much stronger than it was when you didn’t travel.

Reduces Stress

Traveling is a way for us to clear our minds, disconnect from our daily responsibilities, and find our place in this world that we share together. We experience less stress whenever we travel, causing us to let go of our worries. Stress has been known to be the cause for a multitude of health problems if left unchecked. Taking that vacation, you’ve wanted to will help you unwind and find some peace of mind while you’re having a blast at your dream destination.

Boosts Your Creativity

We inherently learn things when we immerse ourselves in new cultures. Traveling can help expand our perspective on life when we visit destinations that are outside of our norm. We converse with locals and learn about their culture, history, and customs that are different than ours. With this new information, we can compare, contrast, and possibly find meaningful lessons that we can take with us when we return home.

Traveling Lowers Depression

Depression is a cruel mistress. While we may have all our basic needs met, we can still find ourselves longing for something more. While money can help you plan a trip, it can’t outright buy the value that we find from the adventure. Traveling has been known to reduce depression in people who are suffering from it. The man has always been an adventurer, seeking new lands and challenges to faces. While modern society comes with its unique challenges, they don’t compare to the adventures that early man experienced. It is simply in our DNA to want to journey into the unknown. While a trip to Europe may not be as perilous as it was in the early day, it most certainly gives us fulfillment, which is something many of us lack as we report to our desk jobs every day.

Keeps You Fit

One of the most obvious benefits of traveling is that you’re constantly on the move. This means that you’re getting plenty of exercises as you explore new places that you’ve never been before. Whether you’re climbing, hiking, or walking long distances, your body is getting the exercise it needs.

Whether you’re getting overwhelmed at work or feeling the pressure of your daily responsibilities, don’t wait to book that vacation you’ve always wanted to go on. Successful people, like Luis Enrique Coll, know when to step away from their workload and rejuvenate outside of their metaphorical box. Take time for yourself, and you will find that your productivity at work will increase tenfold once you return.