Life can get overwhelming. We often forget how to get back in touch with ourselves and slow down. Work stresses us out and we lose focus on what really matters. We spend numerous hours a day staring at a screen that’s always within an arm’s reach.
And it all honestly burns us out.
By the middle of the summer, I had hit my breaking point. I had just left the 9-5 world to take my business full time, thinking that would be the ultimate fix. All my stress would magically disappear and my whole life would become balanced, right?
That’s not exactly what happened.
The transition wasn’t easy and I was left with a lot of residual anxiety from my previous career that was preventing me from focusing and getting my tasks completed. I was having trouble shaking off my previous routine lifestyle and replacing it with a new agenda where I was solely responsible for keeping myself on track.
Do you know how hard it is to be self-motivated all the time?
I quickly found out and I was losing steam. I knew I needed to step back and get away for awhile.
When I found a round-trip ticket to Norway for $202, I was set for an adventure. I knew some fresh mountain air would do me good. But I never imagined Norway would teach me so many life changing lessons.
1. You can live (better!) without your phone
This probably isn’t surprising, but in a society where we are all glued to our phones, I think we forget we actually can put them down. You need to unplug from time to time. You don’t want to be that person at the top of the mountain in front of an amazing view that’s scrolling through Facebook or sending a Snapchat. Just stop and appreciate nature and your accomplishment.
When I arrived in Norway, one of the first things I did was ask where to get a sim card; I didn’t want to be without data. But standing outside the phone store, I stopped and thought about it. Would it really be so bad if no one could contact me and I didn’t have internet access while hiking? I had wifi in all my hostels and an offline maps app so I chose not to be (always) connected and I’m so glad I did.
Okay so I got lost a couple times (way less than I thought I would have!) and I couldn’t post to social media the second I took a photo, but none of that mattered and made me that much more focused on the task at hand…enjoying nature.
We’ve developed this thought that we need to be connected to survive. That we can’’t go a day without checking Instagram or texting all our friends. But guess what? Having a phone that’s on airplane mode for a month is actually incredibly freeing. I never once had to worry about responding to someone’s text or call in a timely manner. All sense of urgency was forgotten.
Try it sometime. Even if it’s just for a couple hours. Turn your phone off and go for a hike. Nature will reward you for your decision with fresh air, babbling brooks, and abundant breathtaking views.
2. Much of our stress is self-induced
We take on too much. Everyone does. We overwhelm ourselves with our own problems and everyone else’s issues too.
We constantly get in over our heads. Instead of just focusing on the manageable things, we worry about it all. Solving world hunger. Fixing the healthcare system. Politics. World peace. While all these are hugely important, if you put them all on your plate, you’ll explode. System overload!
You can’t do it all and I had been trying to for far too long. But one night while I was eating dinner after hiking Preikestolen (after missing all my modes of transportation to my next destination and getting “stuck” at the mountain’s hostel for a night), I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation going on behind me.
This girl was telling the guy she was with (it appeared to be a very intense first date, awkward) all about how stressed out she was. She was self-employed and her business wasn’t profitable and she was struggling to pay her bills, but couldn’t take on a job because she had so much to do in her business. She was worried about taxes. And her grandparents financial situation. And poverty increasing in her country. Famine. War. Violence. The list was endless.
The more she talked, the faster her speech became and the more stressed her voice got. I was getting tense just listening to her.
That’s when I realized how similar I was to this girl. I’d worry about the same things and panic over problems I couldn’t solve alone and I knew I needed to chill out. While trying to save the world, my anxiety levels were digging my grave. Things could be so much calmer if that stress was channeled into actionable steps. Instead of wasting time ranting about what needed to be done, just do it. But also know Rome wasn’t built in a day and you’re only one person so don’t be too hard on yourself. And you’re in Norway! Relax.
3. Solo travel is so social
Many of us are apprehensive when it comes to setting off on our own. It’s perfectly understandable to be a bit nervous, but if you have even the slightest curiosity about solo travel, than you should go for it!
Worried that you’re going to get stuck talking to yourself for days on end? I think the number one most shocking thing I found while traveling alone was that I never was really alone (unless I wanted to be).
When you’re by yourself, you’re much more approachable than when you’re coupled off or with friends. Even if you tend to be introverted like myself, you’ll find that other solo travelers want to get to know you.
Probably the best part of solo travel is the people you meet along the way. Granted many of them only come into your life for a day or two, but I had some of the best, most inspiring conversations with people I may never see again.
And it’s usually really easy to meet people. I made sure to stay in hostels that had large common spaces where I could talk with people and that held different events to get the guests engaged. Another great way I met people was on free walking tours (offered in Oslo and Stavanger). They’re the perfect way to get introduced to a new city and meet people.
What unexpected life lessons have you learned from your travels? Share them below by leaving a comment.
