You’re the STRONG daughter, sister, friend, right? The one who always neglects her own needs to take care of everyone else. A true SHERO! You love hard.

But you neglect to take care of the most important person...YOU. 

We spend so much time, energy, and effort caring for our partners, children, pets, friends, family members, employers, and employees. Add to that the numerous volunteer activities, errands, housework, family functions, meetings, etc.—and there isn’t much time left for caring for ourselves. As women, we need to balance the stress and activity of daily life, with activities that bring a sense of peace and well being to our minds and bodies. Research has shown that women who neglect their own needs and neglect to nurture themselves often become unhappy, have low self-esteem, and feel resentment. Does this sound like you? Self-care means treating yourself as a worthy individual and showing that you are valuable, competent, and deserving. Many women that I plan trips for want to getaway to relax and disconnect from the world. I'm no psychologist but this is a vital part of your mental health. Our body and mind need a break from the daily stressors of life, work, and social media. 

Self-care is simply giving the same love and attention to ourselves that we would give to others. Think about it; on an airplane, the Flight Attendant gives very specific instructions regarding what to do if you experience decompression inflight. "Attention passengers: In the event of a decompression, an oxygen mask will automatically appear in front of you. If you are traveling with a child or someone who requires assistance, secure your mask on first, and then assist the other person."  As we all know, the first rule of thumb is to put on your own oxygen mask before you assist anyone else. My motto is…you can't pour from an empty cup. Only when we first help ourselves, can we effectively help others. It is also one of the easiest things to forget. But you benefit greatly from self-care and so do others in your life. Self-preservation aka self-care is one of the best and most important gifts that we can give to ourselves. Do yourself a favor and put your mask on first!

The Importance of Wellness Travel

This year has thrown more curveballs than the World Series. We’re working from home, homeschooling, trying to keep businesses thriving, and trying not to put on those quarantine pounds. All that many of us want to do right now is hop on a plane to a beautiful beach and enjoy a cocktail. Unfortunately, this has not been an option these last few months. Don’t lose hope! You can still take an adventure (maybe in 2021) that will leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. This type of travel experience is known as wellness travel and they are designed to kick start or improve new habits and lifestyle changes.

Wellness travel is promoting your physical and mental health and wellbeing, through a variety of activities that you do while traveling. The ultimate goal is to return home feeling healthier and better than when you left! The Wellness Tourism Association defines Wellness Travel as Travel that allows the traveler to maintain, enhance, or kick-start a healthy lifestyle, and support or increase one's sense of wellbeing. August is National Wellness Month. This month is focused on self-care, managing stress, and promoting healthy routines. We’ve mentioned how travel can be part of your self-care routine. Imagine getting away to a remote location to indulge in yoga, meditation, gourmet cuisine, and luxury spa treatments. We can help you organize your own group trip, or create a custom solo wellness escape designed exclusively to meet your needs. Think about wellness travel as an escape from your everyday life, that’s more than the typical vacation. Crafted wellness trips are geared to encourage you to decrease your stress levels while vacationing while incorporating new and innovative wellness practices into your everyday lives.

Looking for a way to practice self-care?

Well, travel is one of the many things that you can do for yourself to improve your quality of life.

In 2018, there were 658 million unused vacation days in the US. According to a study by Project Time Off, young women are the most unlikely to use their vacation days. Did you know that men were more likely than women to use all their PTO (personal time off) in 2016? Let's face it, the women of our generation, yes... you, the hard-working, go-getting millennial are getting burned out, faster than ever.

Traveling as a form of self-care is a way to refocus your mind, rediscover yourself, and have a fresh new experience. And the best part about travel... when done correctly, it’s inexpensive (way cheaper than therapy), health-inducing, easy, and super fun. So why wouldn’t you incorporate travel into your self-care regimen? Don't just take my word for it. Travel has been proven to improve your physical and emotional health. A study from the Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin found that women who vacation at least twice a year are less likely to suffer from depression and chronic stress than women who vacation less than once every two years. It’s okay to escape and take care of yourself so that you can continue to take care of everyone else. When we choose ourselves and prioritize our whole health, we realize feeling good has a snowball effect. When you feel good, you help others around you feel just as good, if not better.

So take the trip, and watch everyone around you benefit. Spread that good ole' love.

There are very clear scientifically-backed health benefits of traveling the world. Mentally, physically, and emotionally, you can gain so much from just packing your bags and exploring places you’ve never been. Don't know where to go? Thousands of places across the world are worth visiting. Moonglade Travel can help you find the ideal destination sure to help you relax, rejuvenate, and refuel. Don't forget that self-care is essential, not optional. Looking to travel with like-minded women? Join our exclusive community on Facebook, filled with women who travel with a purpose, also check out our Wellness Journeys. 

We’d love to hear to hear from you! What are some of your favorite wellness travel destinations that help you, relax and rejuvenate?