63 days, 23 states, 24 National Parks, almost 11,000 miles. Here are 7 things I learned whilst travelling around North America:
1) Stepping into a new routine can actually be quite refreshing
As humans we often find comfort in routine. Doing the same things in the same way every day can feel quite safe so I was expecting stepping into an entirely new routine where I’d be on the road in a new country and sleeping in a different place on an almost daily basis to be quite stressful. In fact, it was the opposite. I loved the variety, the new places, the different experiences and the self-sufficiency that came with living on the road. It felt refreshing not scary.
2) We adapt very quickly to new surroundings, cultures and ways of living
Spending time in a new country always takes a period of adjustment. The transport systems are different, the food, the general customs, language, but I quickly found myself adapting and feeling comfortable. In fact, by the end of the experience I felt quite American and it took me some time to adjust back to the way of life in the UK!
3) Having quiet time in nature helps clear the mind which can heal wounds you didn't know existed
I’ve always enjoyed exploring new places and going for walks but it wasn’t until the pandemic that I really started to stop and appreciate how much being outside can change your mood. Since then, I practice mindfulness every time I go for a walk, but I’m still active, I rarely stop and take it all in. This trip gave me lots of time to just stop and be present. I watched animals, listened to birds and generally embraced nature doing its thing, and boy was it a game changer. It highlighted thoughts I hadn’t had time to think, wounds that I hadn’t given enough attention to heal, and aspirations I hadn’t previously considered. I learned that time being still is a form of self-care and can provide a new perspective.
4) You don’t realise how much of an impact your routine and the people around you are having until you step away from them
We get so focused on our day-to-day life we don’t stop to think about the impact it’s having on us. This trip gave me the opportunity to see how my UK routine was impacting me, the good, the bad and the ugly, and it gave me the opportunity to do things differently. As a result of the changes I made I saw improvements in my mood, mental health and physical health outlining clearly what works for me and what doesn’t. Now I know what’s best for me moving forwards I’ll protect my routine to ensure I’m giving myself what I need to be at my best.
5) Taking 30mins to watch the sunrise and gather your thoughts can really set the tone for the day
I’ll be honest, aside from the occasional sunrise on the beach, I’ve never gotten up to watch the sun come up. Whilst dispersed camping in America however, I spent many of my mornings sat watching the day start and it truly filled my heart. Watching the world wake up and the stunning colours and sounds that came with it made me incredibly grateful. I spent time checking in with myself which allowed me to see what I needed to make that day a good day. I’ve never been a morning person but I’m now planning to wake up every morning with the sun and practise yoga before I start my day – it really did have that much of an impact on me!
6) Things may not always go to plan but if you have the right mindset it won't matter
When you’re travelling for a long period of time it’s inevitable that at some point, things will go wrong. For example, I had a hire car that needed to be taken back and swapped because it wasn’t working properly. I could have let this ruin my day because instead of exploring an island I needed to drive to the hire company’s office and wait for a replacement car but instead I embraced the opportunity to have a slow day and learned that flexibility is the key to a successful road trip.
7) New challenges might feel scary but that doesn't mean you can't do them
I decided that my trip to America was going to be an opportunity to push myself out of my comfort zone, so I set myself lots of challenges. Sometimes I felt scared or apprehensive before I was about to do something new and at times this impacted my confidence and fuelled negative self-talk (things like “you can’t do this” suddenly popped into my mind). Then I saw a quote which reminded me that just because something feels scary doesn’t mean you can’t do it, it just means you haven’t done it before. Reminding myself of this re-frame helped keep the self-talk positive and my confidence high meaning I could achieve all of the things I wanted to achieve.
Not only was this road trip a once in a life time opportunity, it was also an absolutely brilliant experience and something I'll never forget. I discovered so many new things about myself and in many ways I think this trip will become the next milestone in my journey to finding my authentic self and thriving!
Thank you, America!
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