Why Experiencing Art is a Great Way to Improve Your Mental Wellbeing While Travelling
Written by Abbey Faye Williams / 7 September 2023
You've picked your destination, researched the best restaurants, arranged transport and packed your bags. But have you thought about the most important thing you'll be taking with you aside from your passport? Whether on a weekend city break or backpacking cross-countries, taking care of your mind while travelling is absolutely vital, yet so often overlooked.
We often assume that as we are in a new location and escaping the norms of daily life, we will be feeling our best selves, but there are many reasons as to why this is not always the case.
Maybe navigating a giant new city is feeling daunting and stressful, maybe budget worries are niggling away in the back of your mind, or maybe that family member is just getting on your last nerve.
Whatever might be happening for you, finding ways to cope and soothe your mind is just as, if not more important when you are travelling, as it is when in the comfort of your own home town.
It has long been known that art in its many forms has a plethora of benefits for the mind, whether you are producing it yourself or experiencing others' creations.
In this article we will explore how weaving in art to your travel plans will both create unique, memorable experiences and support healthy, optimised mental wellbeing so you can continue having the best possible trip.
Winged Victory - The Louvre, Paris
How Travel Effects Mental Health
Pros
- Gives you a break from every day commitments such as work, life admin etc.
- Can counteract work burn out and improve productivity
- Boosts mood
- Gives opportunities for activities great for the mind such as visiting an art exhibit, resting, yoga, hiking
- Helps you connect with extended world, new cultures, ways of life broadens the mind
- Provides time to reflect upon your own life
- Gives time to connect meaningfully with loved ones
- Allows time for leisure and play, essential to wellbeing
- Can improve self esteem, confidence, creativity and sense of identity
- Is fantastic for brain health
- Produces life-changing memories
- Promotes sense of control over own life
- Supports locals and businesses through tourism
Cons
- Planning can be complicated and stressful
- Even the best plans can go astray leading to last minute improvisation
- Post-holiday blues are no joke
- Social media can glorify destinations which then may not meet expectations
- Sleep issues
- Culture shock, unfamiliar surroundings and separation from loved ones
- Longer term or solo travel can become lonely, may be difficult to build routine or cause you to question your sense of purpose
- Getting the right support may be more difficult in foreign countries i.e therapy, medication, particularly in countries where mental health is more stigmatised.
- May worsen pre-existing mental health problems
Dance of Koi and People (Computer programmed Koi that alter in the presence of people. Every interaction is unique and irreplicable) - Teamlab, Tokyo
The Relationship Between Art Experiences and Wellbeing
As with travel itself, it's important to state that experiencing art is no replacement for seeking actual support such as through a GP or licensed therapist if you are really struggling with your mental health.
With that being said, the benefits that art can have on mental wellbeing has been proven many times, so it would only make sense to incorporate this into your travel plans. This could include any form of art such as:
- Visiting an art exhibition
- Watching a theatre or dance production
- Listening to music or watching a live performance
- Visiting a museum
- Eating at a fine dining restaurant
Ok, but how exactly does art make you feel good?
- Promotes connection to a spectrum of emotions
- Increases critical thinking
- Helps solidify sense of identity when forming thoughts and opinions
- Provides entertainment
- Presents distraction
- Can stimulate release of feel-good hormones, boosting your mood
- Supports learning and may be mentally stimulating/challenging
- Improves empathy and relatability to others
Thang Long Water Puppetry (Traditional Vietnamese Art) - Hanoi
How Art Experiences Support Mental Wellbeing When Travelling
There are many ways that experiencing art can help to deepen our connection with new people, places and cultures, while being very beneficial for our overall mental health. Let's take a closer look at how this happens:
- Art and mindfulness really do go hand in hand, mindfulness encourages us to slow down, notice the detail without judgement and observe our thoughts and feelings. It allows us space to check in with ourselves and reflect upon how the art is making us feel.
- This could be practiced with many types of art e.g when viewing a painting in a gallery, or observing some handmade wooden objects. Mindfulness helps us to live in the moment and prepares our minds to face challenges and manage stressful situations. Click here to learn more about how mindful travel can benefit you.
- Experiencing art that reflects a particular location, group or culture allows us to form a better understanding of values, traditions, history, socio-political issues, hopes and fears unique to the people of that region. This promotes empathy for the local people of the places we're visiting, and can lead to a grounding sense of human connection to something greater.
- Counteract attention theft that occurs as a result of social media usage and create more poignant memories.
- In engaging with arts when travelling, we can feel good about giving back to local artists, helping to sustain their living and perpetuate creativity
- Many people travel to gain new perspectives on their life, the world and even existence itself. Art provides a fast track way of gaining alternative views, which may lead to further open-mindedness and creativity when dealing with our own life problems.
- While there can be a range of price points, you can often find many budget-friendly places to see art. For example free exhibits can be held at libraries or arts centres, live music performances at cafes, or try heading to a local market/shops where artists are selling their pieces.
- If new perspectives are something you're looking for, art will certainly lead to more fulfilling, quality travel experiences.
Immersive artwork - Teamlab, Tokyo
Quick 5 Step Guide to Practicing Mindfulness with Art
1. Check in with yourself before you engage with the art. Try using the five fundamentals to guide this
- Mind - thoughts? Level of focus, clarity
- Body - Physical sensations?
- Breath - Where can you feel it? Rate? Are you holding it or restricting?
- Emotion - What feelings are present?
- Energy - Tired or pumped? High or low?
2. Select the art and engage with it for at least two minutes. Revisit the five fundamentals as you observe, just noticing what is happening for you.
3. Focus on specific aspects of the art, the detail, the colour, the shape, the mood.
4. Allow thoughts to come and go. Don't worry if your mind wanders, this is normal. Gently refocus the mind on the art.
5. Re-engage with the outer world and step away. Take a few moments to reflect on the experience, perhaps note down any differences in the five fundamentals after viewing.
Note: Remember with any kind of meditation, practice is key and usually becomes more natural when done regularly.
Floating Flower Garden (become one with orchids) - Teamlab, Tokyo
Enhance Art Experiences While Travelling
Try these to get the most out of your art experiences while travelling:
- Do a little bit of prior research to find art spaces, theatres, exhibits that interest you
- Plan your journey and check it is in line with your budget (if you have one) to reduce stress
- Try to relax before engaging with art
- Don't go hungry! Either eat before or bring snacks along
- Turn your phone to silent or better yet leave it behind if feasible to minimise distraction
- Attend solo or with others you'd like to share the experience with
Last Few Words
Mental wellbeing is inherently linked with physical health and should be regarded as equally important by travellers. When visiting a new place there can be a real temptation to try to see and do everything on offer but this can lead to travel fatigue, increased stress and ultimately, dissatisfaction.
Engaging with art offers so many benefits for travellers to both enhance mental wellbeing and gives you the chance to have amazing travel experiences, no matter what kind of traveller you are or where you are visiting.
Galerie d'Apollon - The Louvre, Paris
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Hello, I'm Abbey Faye. I'm a full time backpacker, mental health nurse and mindfulness advocate, currently slow travelling my way across Asia.
This blog is where I combine my passion for mindful travel and wellbeing, bringing you the best tips and guides to give you the most meaningful, memorable travelling experience.