One of the best ways to get out of a rut is to travel someplace alone. Being in a new place gives you a fresh perspective, and traveling alone gives you time to think. However, few people actually travel alone, with the exception of those going on business trips. Solitude can be intimidating. We rely so much on other people, which is generally a good thing. People need people as they need water. However, personal development isn’t a group effort. Other people can help you figure out a lot about yourself. But, at the end of the day, only your own personal reflection can bring about meaningful changes in your attitude and the way you interact with the world. If you crave change in your life but aren’t sure how to bring it about, consider traveling alone. And before you book a one-way ticket to Prague on an air charter service, consider these three solo travel tips:

1. Research possible destinations, and try to find someplace that will allow you to try out new things. For instance, if you’ve never been scuba diving, you could consider going to Cozumel and exposing yourself to some of the most beautiful reefs in the world. Or you could travel to Paris and visit the Musée du Louvre. Seeing the Mona Lisa up close for the first time could be just the experience you need to give you a new perspective on life. If you travel someplace you’ve been a hundred times and do the things you always do there, you can’t expect significant personal revelations. So, travel someplace new and plan to do things you’ve never done before. 

2. Just go. Oftentimes we put ourselves last and put off self-care. You may have a lot of things to do at work, and your brother’s birthday may be coming up, and your dog may need to be groomed. You could come up with a hundred reasons to put off taking a trip, but don’t fall into the trap of making excuses for why you can’t do something for yourself. Pick a weekend, use up a few of your work vacation days, and get out of town.

3. Remember that traveling should be relaxing, and focus on what you can control. You can’t control how long the security line is at the airport, how turbulent the flight is, or how loud the people who are staying in the hotel room next to you are. If you begin to feel anxious or stressed out, take deep breaths. You could even go to a yoga or meditation class in the city you traveled to. Just make sure you stay calm and give yourself enough mental processing time, and your solo trip will be everything you hoped for and more!