Mindfulness is a very simple form of meditation that was little known in the West until recently. The underlying principle of mindfulness can be defined as cultivating awareness of the present moment, purposefully and nonjudgmentally.
With daily practice, mindfulness can teach us to observe our thoughts without identifying with them so strongly, making us less reactive and more accepting of whatever’s happening in our current situation.
Being a more mindful traveller can mean different things to different people. To me, it means paying attention to the present moment and the world around me without judgement and doing all I can to minimize my impact as a traveller.
This means choosing to travel in a responsible and considerate way that causes minimal harm to others, myself and the environment.
I would also argue that mindful travel creates space in your mind for insight, enabling you to experience travel’s true transformative powers.
Every step that you take with a curious, open mind and heart will help you to experience things as they are, without judgement.
This will help you to consider other people’s experiences as well as be reminded of how much we all have in common, and what we can learn from each other.
For these reasons, I believe that mindfulness is a powerful tool to embrace whilst you travel, and with practice, anyone can cultivate more mindful travel experiences.
Here are a few of the tried and tested ways that I create mindful travel experiences that, you can try too.
Take your daily mindfulness exercises with you
Do you have a mindfulness practice that helps you stay present when you’re at home?
Perhaps you like to start your day with quiet meditation, morning yoga or exercising in nature?
Whatever it is that you do, take it with you when you travel! The important thing is to try to make time for your practice wherever you can, even though you may not have a consistent routine.
Whilst on the road it’s all too easy to let our daily routines and rituals fall by the wayside, but even just five or ten minutes of meditation each day can have a really positive impact on how you move through the day.
It’s often said that practising mindfulness is a lot like building up a muscle. A little bit of practice each day can help to cultivate awareness of thoughts, feelings and sensations in the body, enabling us to relate to ourselves and others with more compassion.
Avoid an overly rigid itinerary
By sticking to a rigid itinerary and hastily rushing from one place to the next, you are in serious danger of not appreciating the details and beauty of where you are now, and worrying more about how to get to the next item on your list.
Set aside time to aimlessly wander and explore, take in your surroundings, and observe the things that unfold around you without judgement. Sometimes the best finds come at the most unexpected, unplanned moments.
Learn a bit of the language and meet locals
A key component of being a more considerate and mindful traveller is treating the earth and all her inhabitants with kindness and respect.
When I go abroad, I always try to learn at least a few words of the language and connect with the people who live there. Even if all you can manage to learn are a simple ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’ in someone’s mother tongue, it sends a message that you respect their culture and language and are interested in understanding it.
Throughout my travels, my naturally inquisitive nature often leads me to ask people I meet questions about their local customs or cuisine. When done in a respectful way, this can help create opportunities to learn and connect with those you encounter.
Take notes about your experiences
One of the best ways to be more present in your surroundings and to really pay attention is to take notes. Consider taking a little journal with you next time you travel, or you can write notes on your phone about all the things you do, see and experience.
My memory is unfortunately not fantastic so I always note down all the tiny details I notice about a place. This helps me to remember my observations more vividly and fosters a stronger connection to the place that I’m in.
You could also try making sketches or drawings when you travel to fully immerse yourself in the present moment. I personally like to take lots of meaningful photos (which double up as memory makers and souvenirs).
Support local businesses or non-profits
Ditch the Starbucks, and venture off the tourist trail to hole-in-the-wall restaurants, street food markets, family-run restaurants or locally owned boutiques.
Whether your volunteering for a non-profit or simply visiting a local social enterprise cafe, your choices as a traveller can help to minimise some of the more detrimental effects of tourism on the communities you visit.
Try to minimise your impact, wherever possible
I am under no illusion that travel is not the most low-impact of hobbies. Most modes of transport bear a heavy carbon footprint and everything from transport to shopping to the environmental impact of building a hotel can affect an area’s environmental health.
The World Tourism Organization, a United Nations agency that focuses on sustainable and responsible travel, has recommended that travellers rely less on flying and more on public transportation.
Here are some other simple ways that you can be more sustainable:
- Avoid plastic and encourage your friends who travel to do the same
- Travel slowly, spending more time in fewer places
- Walk or use public transportation, not taxis
- Pick up rubbish if you see it and find a place to recycle it
- Invest in reusable items to take with you on every trip like reusable water bottles, straws, grocery bags,cutlery and collapsible coffee mugs
And most importantly, never underestimate the difference that just one person’s choices can make!
Limit screen time
In our world of smartphones and devices, our ability to be constantly connected to the world around us is, paradoxically, making us more disconnected and less fully present in the moment we’re in.
Real life doesn’t happen in front of a screen. It happens right in front of you. Put the phone down – break the addiction.
This is especially relevant while travelling. I don’t want to miss out on the precious moments and the magic of travel whilst I’m peering at a glowing rectangle. I don’t want to not see the delightful little details of each city I visit that make it special or fail to connect with the people around me.
It might sound strange coming from a travel blogger, but because I rely so much on Internet devices and social media for building my blog, it’s made me increasingly conscious of the amount of time I spend staring at a screen and the potentially harmful effects of this.
Start by leaving your phone in another room while you sleep (I’ve just bought myself an alarm clock) and don’t let your phone be the first thing you look at when you wake up. I read somewhere recently how sad it is that so many couples wake up and look at their phone before they say good morning or embrace their partner.
Leave your phone in your bag while your eating, especially if you’re sharing a meal with someone.
Do your research
Be sure to do your due diligence and thoroughly research ethical tour operators and travel companies in advance. Opt for companies that support animal conservation, local communities and eco-friendly practices.
For more ideas on how to travel more sustainably, check out this comprehensive guide to top 12 eco-friendly travel companies in 2018 by pebble magazine.
Read the news
Reading some good quality journalism about or from a country before you visit has numerous benefits. Being aware of the political, social or historical context of where you are going will help you to understand the culture better and be more aware of the lives and experiences of its inhabitants – enabling you to have a more insightful, memorable and worthwhile trip.
What are some of the ways you practice mindfulness while you travel?