I used to pack for trips like I was training for the Olympics.
Three outfit changes per day. A shot list in my Notes app. Back-to-back “must-sees” with barely enough time to breathe between airport security and a matcha latte. It looked great on Instagram, sure. But did I feel rested? Inspired? Present?
Not even close.
Then one weekend, I did something wild: I left my planner behind. I didn’t post a single story. And I came back with more—more clarity, more connection, more me.
That’s the thing about slow travel: it gives you back to yourself.
✈️ The Moment I Knew I Was Done Performing Vacations
It was a coastal town. A little sleepy. No TikTok spots. No influencer must-haves. Just a Sunday market, the ocean’s hush, and a used bookstore that smelled like dust and magic.
I sat on a bench with no phone in hand, just a sandwich in wax paper and the sound of a street violinist. My kids weren’t asking for screens. We were just being.
That’s when it hit me:
“We chase memories we never make because we’re too busy curating them.”
🐢 What Slow Travel Actually Means
Forget the hype. Slow travel isn’t about skipping first class or going off-grid. It’s about being intentional with your time, energy, and attention—wherever you go.
Think:
- Choosing one experience a day, and letting the rest unfold.
- Eating where the locals eat. No Yelp review needed.
- Journaling in silence instead of scrambling for Wi-Fi.
You don’t have to fly across the world either. Sometimes slow travel looks like:
- A one-night cabin stay with no cell signal.
- A solo morning drive with zero agenda.
- A neighborhood walk with no AirPods, just birds.
💡 Slow Travel = Deep Productivity
Sounds like a paradox, right?
But it’s real: I get my best ideas when I’m not chasing output. I come back with clarity, creative fire, and peace that can’t be faked.
“Your nervous system wasn’t designed for a feed. It was made for forests.”
— Dr. Nicole LePera, The Holistic Psychologist
When we slow down, we stop reacting. We start noticing. That’s where the magic happens—in the pause.
🌿 Try This: A Mini Slow Travel Reset (No Plane Required)
Want the benefits without booking a flight?
- Unplug for an afternoon. Leave your phone behind and walk a new path.
- Ditch the schedule. Let your body—not your clock—decide what’s next.
- Journal on the go. Write what you see, smell, feel. Don’t edit.
The goal? Connection. Not content.
💭 Final Thoughts: Be Where Your Feet Are
Travel isn’t a competition. It’s not about the likes or the view count or that one golden-hour pic.
It’s about presence. Memory-making. Knowing you were fully there—whether it was a Bali sunrise or a park bench 10 minutes from home.
So next time you travel, ask:
“Am I capturing the moment or being in it?”
Better yet—can you do both, without losing yourself?
