Though self-care can be practiced nearly anywhere and incorporated into each day, sometimes what you really need is to get away from home and explore a new city or state. This is especially true if you’re feeling overly stressed, anxious, and burned out or experiencing other negative emotions such as resentfulness, sadness, or emptiness.
Travel does wonders for mental health: it’s been shown to increase happiness, prevent depression, boost creativity, relieve stress, and even strengthen relationships with the people you travel with. Plus, several destinations are perfect for those who could really benefit from a self-care getaway. Here are four soul-filling suggestions.
1. Irvine, CA for Sunny Self-Care Getaways and Vacation Homes
Irvine isn’t just an excellent destination for overseas travelers, it’s also one of the healthiest cities in the US thanks to its miles upon miles of biking and hiking trails; sunny skies; near-perfect weather; and exciting attractions like the Irvine Spectrum Center, Orange County Great Park, and Newport Beach. You can also find a plethora of spas and wellness centers; vegan and vegetarian restaurants; picnicking sites; tennis courts; and other activities to support your physical, mental, and emotional health.
Since Moneypenny ranked California as the top state for self-care, the Golden State could also be the perfect place to buy a vacation home so you can keep returning to Irvine when you’re in need of a self-care reset. Practicing financial self-care is just as important as caring for your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health — and purchasing a vacation home can be an excellent investment for your health and bank account.
To learn more about the vacation home-buying process, start by applying for financing and calculating your down payment. If you can’t afford to put at least 20 percent down, other options include taking out a second mortgage or buying a vacation home with a few friends. You could even bring in some extra cash throughout the year by renting out the vacation home when you’re not using it.
2. Sedona, AZ for Spiritual and Stress-Free Time Off
Located just outside of Flagstaff — a popular year-round sports destination — Sedona is the perfect place to visit if you’re looking to heal the body, mind, and soul. Sedona’s spiritual wellness retreats and four main vortexes attract tourists from all over the world, as visitors can find spas, spiritual tours, yoga classes, hiking destinations, places of worship, and other self-care attractions and activities.
To get the most out of your self-care stay in Sedona, it’s important to fully unplug from work before leaving on vacation. Whether you’re self-employed or working for an employer, be sure to inform your clients or customers before taking off — and find someone (such as a virtual assistant) to cover for you so you won’t be tempted to read and respond to emails or work on assignments while you’re away.
3. Park City, UT for Peaceful Outdoor Adventures
If you enjoy outdoor activities like skiing, snowmobiling, and snow tubing, Park City could be the perfect self-care getaway for you. You can visit outdoor attractions such as Deer Valley Reort, Guardsman Pass Scenic Backway, and Park City Mountain Resort — or relax and unwind at a yoga class, float therapy spa, or massage studio. Park City offers many opportunities to relax and rejuvenate, take a scenic drive, or experience an adrenaline rush: the choice is yours.
4. Alachua, FL for Ayurvedic Healing
This Gainesville-area Florida destination is home to the Ayurveda Health Retreat, a wellness center offering yoga, Ayurvedic treatments, and alternative healing therapies like reiki, facials, massage, and breathwork. Their all-inclusive wellness retreats are beneficial to self-care seekers as well as those with pain, allergies, and chronic illnesses, as the therapies they offer are meant to strengthen the immune system and assist the body in removing toxins. Other Alachua-area attractions include the Retirement Home for Horses at Mill Creek Farm, San Felasco Hammock State Park, and Deep Spring Farm.
Travel Supports a Healthy Mind, Body, and Soul
Whether you’re thinking of buying a vacation home in one of these four self-care cities — or you’re preparing to take some time off work so you can visit one of the destinations on our list, you’ll be sure to reap the many physical, mental, and emotional health benefits of travel when you visit Irvine, Sedona, Park City, or Alachua.
Everyone’s idea of self-care is different, but the important thing is that you’re caring for your mind, body, and soul. That could mean soaking in a hot tub, relaxing on the beach, skiing down a mountain, or taking in Sedona’s healing vortexes. Be sure to take your personality, interests, and specific self-care needs in mind when choosing the right wellness destination for you.
