Why You Should Travel Slower

A slow mindset is one of the foundations of Roam & Gather, but what does that even mean? When we hear the words "slow travel" the inclination is to think in terms of time. And that can be frustrating when you only have a short amount of it to travel. 

But I have good news for you! Slow travel actually has very little to do with time. Of course, more time allows you to take things at an easier pace, but slow travel has much more to do with your mindset than with the amount of time you have for vacation. Whether you have a weekend or a six months, slow travel is possible. Here are the four main elements that I believe contribute to slow travel.

CONNECTION

Take time to be present in the moment. Instead of running from place to place and sticking to a rigid itinerary, put away your phone, and pay attention to your senses as you walk. What do you see? what do you smell? How does the sun or wind or rain feel on your skin? Use your senses to connect deeply with the place around you.

INTENTION

When I talk about intention in travel, it doesn't mean that I advocate for filling up every moment of your trip itinerary. In fact, I would recommend almost the exact opposite. Leave time to wander and get lost a bit, with the intent to see places off the well-touristed routes. Discover places beyond what Yelp or Google or Trip Advisor suggest. In this sense, intention is found in the desire to experience things as they come, without being guided by stars and ratings. Which leads me to the next point...

IMMERSION

Immersion, in many ways, means following your heart. Where are you compelled to look around? What catches YOUR eye? Forgoing reliance on outside ratings or what’s “most Instagrammable” will allow to you take in your new locale in ways that are personally meaningful to you.

REST

While the desire to see "as much as possible" will always pull you, try to resist a bit. Taking time to rest is important too. Take time to linger over your morning cup of tea or coffee. Take breaks from walking, sit near a window in a cafe and watch the world go by. Be easy and gentle with yourself, and resist applying the rules of productivity to your travels. How often do you get to indulge, enjoy, and just be? For many of us, it’s only when we travel and are able to escape our normal obligations. So take advantage of this time.

I hope that the next time you travel, you remember to apply some of these ideas to your journey. I think you’ll find it all the more enriching and meaningful.