At some point in our lives, most of us get an urge to travel. We want to see more of the world, spend more than a few weeks in one country, and really get to know the people, the culture, and the history of the places that we visit. We want to live in other countries, not just visit them on short trips. Unfortunately, this kind of travel, even if you visit one place at a time, takes commitment and time, and often life gets in the way. Once we’ve started working, or studying for a degree, it’s hard to take long periods away, and travel is something that’s all too often left on our bucket lists.
If you are studying to be a nurse, or otherwise work in healthcare, you might be reluctant to travel. You’ll want to commit yourself to your course and give it your all. But actually, traveling as much as you can throughout your course can have many benefits.
How Can you Travel While You Study?
Traditionally, the only way to successfully travel during your education used to be to take a gap year, either midway through a course or before starting college. Nowadays, however, things have changed. If you are studying an online ABSN or other nursing courses, you might be a bit further into your career, and so able to take a little more time out to take trips throughout the year.
Another option when studying an online ABSN at Baylor University is studying on the go. If you’ve got placements, you’ll need to be nearby but, the rest of the time, online courses give you fantastic freedom and the flexibility to take your studies with you while you travel.
Travel Helps You Care for Your Mental Health
Studying is stressful, and training to be a nurse can be fairly high-pressure. There’s a lot to learn, and a lot of competition to do well. It’s common for students to put themselves under too much pressure, become overwhelmed, and struggle with their mental health. Traveling can be a great way to care for your mental health, take time out, and get some peace. Even if you are studying online, and need to work while you are away, reading on a beach is much more relaxing than in a lecture hall.
Traveling Builds Independence
If you’ve just finished school, the independence required to take on a college degree, or enter the working world might come as a bit of a shock. Many students struggle to adapt. Traveling can help you to gain independence, and make studying independently, making new friends, and working, much easier.
A Chance to Grow in Confidence and Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
Part of growing in independence is developing the courage and confidence to try new things, to push yourself forward, and to take some risks. In education and the workplace, it’s often the people that push themselves forward for projects and try things that they might not be comfortable with that have the greatest successes.
Traveling helps you to build these skills. If you are a shy person especially, traveling, meeting new people, and going to new places takes a lot of courage. But, once you start stepping out of your comfort zone, it starts to get easier, which will help you in your studies and future career.
Traveling While You Study Nursing Helps to Broaden Your Knowledge
Perhaps one of the best reasons for any student to travel is the opportunity to learn more and to learn things that you might not be able to at home. As a student of healthcare, you can gain valuable knowledge of healthcare around the world and alternative remedies, but also of the ways in which different lifestyles affect both physical and mental health. Some of this knowledge will help you in your studies and future career.
Experience in Other Countries Could Lead to Exciting Career Opportunities
Another great reason to travel while you are studying is the opportunities it could lead to. If you gain some work experience while you travel, or even if you learn some of the languages and spend time living in your host country, you might find it much easier to find a job there in the future. Having experienced living in other countries could also give you the edge over other candidates when applying for positions at home, as a valuable life experience that not everyone has.
Travel Can Increase Academic Performance
Many people worry that traveling will have a negative effect on their academic performance. But actually, taking time to care for your mental health and reduce stress, while learning more about the world around you and putting your own worries into perspective can increase academic performance. Many people that visit other countries during their studies perform better than those that don’t.
Unexpected Networking Opportunities
You never know who you will meet while you travel. Some of these people will be great friends and supporters, but some of the people that you meet could even end up being important to your career in the future. This is especially true if you take the time to explore work experience or volunteer work, while you are living abroad.
Greater Appreciation
Seeing more of the world is a great way to gain a new appreciation for your life at home, your family and friends, and the opportunities that your studies will afford you. Seeing how other people live is always a great reminder of how lucky we are.
Friends and Experiences
Of course, one of the main benefits of traveling, whenever you choose to do it, is the new friends and experiences that you will gain. Traveling has a way of bringing people together, and it’s easy to form important friendships with people from all around the world.
Whether you choose to take frequent short trips or spend longer traveling, studying as you go, there are many benefits to seeing the world and letting your hair down while you complete your studies. Benefits that could help you both as you study and in your future career.
To read more on topics like this, check out the Health category
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