What I learned from travelling solo

ravelling alone can seem like a daunting adventure.  Apart from short trips within Canada and the United States I hadn’t done a solo trip until 2017 to Iceland.  Here’s what i learned.

It’s ok to be selfish

When you are travelling alone the only person you need to think about is yourself.  Want to go on a 6 hour hike? Put on your hiking shoes. Want to sleep in until noon? Draw those blinds.  Not having to compromise to another’s schedule or meet half way on the things you want to do can be very freeing.  Be selfish with the opportunitites you want to take and make the most out of your trip.

Get ready to get comfortable with being uncomfortable

My solo trip has been and will continue to be one of the best personal growth experiences I have ever had.  I rented a car and drove around Iceland, camping at some amazing views. As much as travelling alone can be freeing, we all seek personal connection, but we can make it on our own terms.

I forced myself to talk to other travellers while hiking some of the amazing scenery, whether they were solo or in a group, and I met some amazing people from all over the world.  I had conversations with locals while stopping for a coffee or a bite to eat, really getting a feel for what Iceland is all about (most were willing to talk).    

If you want to give your confidence a boost - travel alone.  You and yourself are there to solve any problems and make decisions. You don’t have anyone else to rely on.  Yes you will make mistakes and bad decisions but you yourslef can own those decisions and grow from them.  

You are responsible for you

This is a good and bad thing.  It can be very freeing but you also can’t blame anyone else, you and you alone are accountable! Wether you missed your flight, the hostel you booked is terrible, or you are lost and you need to interact with locals to get found.  Take responsibility and watch yourself grow.  

Go in with an open mind, come out with a growth mindset

Travelling alone forces you to be open to new experiences.  You can’t rely on your travel buddy to entertain  you the whole trip.  And trust me, even if you think you just want to spend the whole trip with yourself, you will need some interaction with other humans at some point.  To get the most out of the trip and life in general go in with an open mind. Open to new experiences, new people, new challenges, and new triumphs.  When you travel alone you test your assumptions and challenge your beliefs.  The world is full of preconceived misconceptions and self-imposed barriers, this is your chance to show yourself you can break them.

Face your fears

I am not going to sit here and tell you how to face your fear because I don’t know what it is, but i will tell you my experience facing mine.  I purposely planned my solo trip to get me out of my comfort zone and use it as an opportunity to grow.  I have social anxiety.  I say have because no, the trip did not “cure it.” I still get anxious in some social situations.  But you know what I am now able to do in those situations?  Act like I am not anxious and reap all the benefits of being in those situations.  Forcing myself to have only myself on my trip and interacting with other travellers and locals forced me into uncomfortable situations which allowed me to grow as a person.  

If there is one thing you will take away from travelling solo it is you will learn to love your own company pretty quickly.  As much as you are able to interact with other travellers and locals, there will be times when you eat alone, there will be times when you feel completely isolated. Guess what?  That’s ok, and it is all part of the process.  You learn to love your own company.  It’s when we’re alone that we learn to love ourselves.