going on holiday alone to the other side of the world..is this a good way of "finding ones self"?

Question

i am single + stuck in a "work-sleep-work" rut. i have some time off work coming up. is travelling a good way of enriching my routine existance?

Answer 1

.......Absolutely, go for it. I did it a few years ago by myself, met some fabulous people and am still in touch with them now. I discovered myself in a way that I couldn't have possible imagined out of the Eat, sleep, work routine. Only problem is I can't seem to settle back in the UK again now, I find people in the country so narrow minded and a lot of males racist. Having been a minority in so many countries it has opened my eyes to the problem of racism. By the way I did Australia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos and Japan over a period of 2 years. Have fun

Answer 2

I suppose it could bring you out of your shell if you feel work is suppressing your true nature. Though if you feel you need to find yourself then perhaps you are better off thinking what you are really looking for in yourself before just buggering off to a foreign land thinking that you will make some amazing discovery.

There is no way of knowing what your true self is as long as there are other people in your life as you will always change no matter how small, just do whatever you want to do wherever you can.

Take a break from work and get out there, wherever you wish to go, whatever you wish to do, maybe something will come to you, either you find a way of baring the work/sleep rut or finding something else to do with your life.

Good luck

Answer 3

I'm an American and I did this same thing while traveling to europe last October. It was the BEST experience of my life. I too was in a work-sleep-work routine and needed a break. So I took some vacation time and went to Octoberfest in Munich. I also visited Holland. It was a really cool experience. Since I was on my own, I was able to meet some really interesting people along the way, and my whole outlook on other cultures have changed. Some were doing the exact same thing as me, and traveling alone. I stayed in youth hostels and visited some really cool cultural landmarks along the way.

If you go, be sure to take a journal and log your experiences. That was one vacation I never regretted. If you have the money and the vacation time, I would definitely do it!

Answer 4

Depends which part you want to find.. If its stuff that you are trying to get away from, it'll find you on the other side of the world. SO if you're feeling lonely or sad or negative stuff aimed at yourself, then it is unlikely to go away.

If however it is a rut - and you are just a bit bored or whatever then GO GET IT! I am as jealous as hell!!!

I spent 3 weeks in New Zealand in Nov last year - I came back feeling so much clearer about the choices I make etc.

Really wishing I had timetabled 6 months around the world a few years ago!!

Answer 5

As long as you are taking holiday to center yourself, it works fine. Don't take the trip "hoping to meet someone", or " I'll go to Vegas and get rich." The best way to break up the routine is to travel as a "tourist". Stop in the cheap little shops, take goofy pics, buy a few tacky knick-nacks....then, after the trip and a few months have gone by and you feel that rut again, you can pick up those god-awful snowglobes and pics and laugh and remember why you had so much fun.

Answer 6

Wow, look at how many people read 'lonely' into your question....

Traveling in another country, especially one with another language, forces you to find new ways of dealing with the basics of life. You'll get to spend a lot of time with yourself and won't have your old answers and routines to fall back on. Even my 60+ year old father (U.S.) was changed by two weeks in Europe.

One important question -- are you looking to get out of your work-sleep-work rut permanently or just experience something different for awhile? If it's the latter, go for something really cool, different and exciting that people will want to hear about (so you get to re-live it frequently :-). If it's the former, my suggestion is to travel without plans as much as possible so you can move (or not) as you wish. That kind of physical freedom will help your mind wake up.

The easiest way of 'seeing with new eyes' is to give them something dfferent to look at. But you have to make sure you actually look.

Wherever you go, send me a mental postcard. :-)

Answer 7

What a great opportunity! I can only guess that being in a different situation, country, routine and culture will alter your perspective on life. Also meeting different people and having a new experience sounds fun and exciting. Whether you 'find yourself' is a weird one, its a bit of a ciche that people travel and go to far off places to find ones self..very deep, when perhaps it shouldn't be such a complicated and serious notion. Just have a great time and enjoy your trip! People are always searching for something, just relax!

Answer 8

No, it's not a good way to find yourself, that's a myth! But it certainly is a great way to have fun and meet new people and break away from the mundane routine you find yourself in.
You are going to have the time of your LIFE! Enjoy!

Answer 9

NO... but it is a good way to take your self in an exciting and new evironment, so as to feel somehow new, somehow like never before... Bout don't delude yourself, this would not be your "new", "real" self found, it is your old good self enjoying adventures! If you let me re-phrase dear old Proust, The real voyage of finding yourself consist not in seeking new lands, but seeing with new eyes!
Have a good time abroad, and a safe flight!

Answer 10

If you are in the UK, why not try putting on a pair of hiking boots and geting out on dartmoor. The wind in your hair up there will certainly blow the cobwebs away. It certainly works a treat for me. Whatever you decide, take care and stay safe.