Key Takeaways

Taking a trip might be an investment for your longevity.

A new study published in theJournal of Travel Researchsuggests that positive travel experiences could help slow biological aging. The researchers used the concept of entropy—a measure of disorder and chaos in physics—to explain how vacations impact health. Higher entropy, or more disorder in the body, can accelerate aging and lead to poor health, while lower entropy could do the opposite.

Travel often involves more socializing or physical activity than usual, both of which can help counter entropy increases and contribute to healthy aging, according toFangli Hu, lead author of the study and a researcher and PhD candidate at the School of Medical and Health Sciences at Edith Cowan University in Australia.

“Overall, travel might offer a valuable opportunity to nurture both physical and mental health, potentially slowing down the biological aging process,” Hu told Verywell in an email.

Negative travel experiences—such as stress or illness—can lead to poor health outcomes. Finding ways to make travel a positive experience can offer some health benefits.

“Different types of travel might have varying effects on health and aging, and these impacts may differ across diverse populations,” Hu said. “It doesn’t have to be an international trip; local travel or weekend escapes might work well too. The key is to tailor travel plans to what best suits individuals’ lifestyle, personal preferences, and health status.”

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Travel Can Teach You How to Relax

Stress can speed up aging,but travel often helps people forget their day-to-day responsibilities temporarily. Research shows thateven a short, four-night vacation can help reduce stress.

However, many people experiencing chronic stress—especially due to factors like economic instability—don’t have the opportunity to travel. Even for those who have the means to travel, it’s important to recognize that a vacation won’t undo months or years of accumulated stress.

To make the most out of a vacation, try to immerse yourself in the experience and avoid fixating on the do-to list you left behind.

Taking a trip may also help you discover new ways to manage stress, Chopik added.

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Staying Active While Traveling

Whether you decide to go hiking, bike, or explore a city on foot, traveling often leads to more physical activity than you might typically get at home. Exercise has many health benefits, including improving bone health, reducing heart disease risk, and lowering the chance of developing dementia.

During your travel, remember to pace yourself, wear appropriate footwear, and listen to your body, saidKristin Weible, PT, MS, ScD, an assistant professor of physical therapy at the University of Arizona College of Health Sciences.

“It’s always important to stay hydrated. We kind of forget that when we’re out and about, seeing new things and having fun. This will help with mental clarity and with your joint function,” Weible said.

Exercising on vacation provides immediate health benefits, even if it’s not as intense as a backpacking trip or yoga retreat. Just one session of physical activity can help you sleep better, feel less anxious, and lower blood pressure.

Regular exercise can help slow biological aging,support the immune system, and delay age-related immune decline.While one active vacation won’t keep you young, maintaining these physical activities after your trip can support healthy aging.

“As far as lasting effects, you’re going to need to come home and build on that. Perhaps you found a new activity that you enjoyed, you might find a club in your hometown that you can join for some accountability,” Weible said.

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What This Means For You

7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hu F, Wen J, Zheng D, Ying T, Hou H, Wang W.The principle of entropy increase: a novel view of how tourism influences human health.J Travel Res. Published online August 8, 2024. doi:10.1177/00472875241269892Yegorov YE, Poznyak AV, Nikiforov NG, Sobenin IA, Orekhov AN.The link between chronic stress and accelerated aging.Biomedicines. 2020;8(7):198. doi:10.3390/biomedicines8070198Blank C, Gatterer K, Leichtfried V, et al.Short vacation improves stress-level and well-being in German-speaking middle-managers—a randomized controlled trial.IJERPH. 2018;15(1):130. doi:10.3390/ijerph15010130Department of Health and Human Services.Social determinants of health.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Physical activity benefits for adults 65 or older.Song S, Lee E, Kim H.Does exercise affect telomere length? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Medicina. 2022;58(2):242. doi:10.3390/medicina58020242Nieman DC, Wentz LM.The compelling link between physical activity and the body’s defense system.J Sport Health Sci. 2019;8(3):201-217. doi:10.1016/j.jshs.2018.09.009

7 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hu F, Wen J, Zheng D, Ying T, Hou H, Wang W.The principle of entropy increase: a novel view of how tourism influences human health.J Travel Res. Published online August 8, 2024. doi:10.1177/00472875241269892Yegorov YE, Poznyak AV, Nikiforov NG, Sobenin IA, Orekhov AN.The link between chronic stress and accelerated aging.Biomedicines. 2020;8(7):198. doi:10.3390/biomedicines8070198Blank C, Gatterer K, Leichtfried V, et al.Short vacation improves stress-level and well-being in German-speaking middle-managers—a randomized controlled trial.IJERPH. 2018;15(1):130. doi:10.3390/ijerph15010130Department of Health and Human Services.Social determinants of health.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Physical activity benefits for adults 65 or older.Song S, Lee E, Kim H.Does exercise affect telomere length? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Medicina. 2022;58(2):242. doi:10.3390/medicina58020242Nieman DC, Wentz LM.The compelling link between physical activity and the body’s defense system.J Sport Health Sci. 2019;8(3):201-217. doi:10.1016/j.jshs.2018.09.009

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Hu F, Wen J, Zheng D, Ying T, Hou H, Wang W.The principle of entropy increase: a novel view of how tourism influences human health.J Travel Res. Published online August 8, 2024. doi:10.1177/00472875241269892Yegorov YE, Poznyak AV, Nikiforov NG, Sobenin IA, Orekhov AN.The link between chronic stress and accelerated aging.Biomedicines. 2020;8(7):198. doi:10.3390/biomedicines8070198Blank C, Gatterer K, Leichtfried V, et al.Short vacation improves stress-level and well-being in German-speaking middle-managers—a randomized controlled trial.IJERPH. 2018;15(1):130. doi:10.3390/ijerph15010130Department of Health and Human Services.Social determinants of health.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Physical activity benefits for adults 65 or older.Song S, Lee E, Kim H.Does exercise affect telomere length? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Medicina. 2022;58(2):242. doi:10.3390/medicina58020242Nieman DC, Wentz LM.The compelling link between physical activity and the body’s defense system.J Sport Health Sci. 2019;8(3):201-217. doi:10.1016/j.jshs.2018.09.009

Hu F, Wen J, Zheng D, Ying T, Hou H, Wang W.The principle of entropy increase: a novel view of how tourism influences human health.J Travel Res. Published online August 8, 2024. doi:10.1177/00472875241269892

Yegorov YE, Poznyak AV, Nikiforov NG, Sobenin IA, Orekhov AN.The link between chronic stress and accelerated aging.Biomedicines. 2020;8(7):198. doi:10.3390/biomedicines8070198

Blank C, Gatterer K, Leichtfried V, et al.Short vacation improves stress-level and well-being in German-speaking middle-managers—a randomized controlled trial.IJERPH. 2018;15(1):130. doi:10.3390/ijerph15010130

Department of Health and Human Services.Social determinants of health.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Physical activity benefits for adults 65 or older.

Song S, Lee E, Kim H.Does exercise affect telomere length? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Medicina. 2022;58(2):242. doi:10.3390/medicina58020242

Nieman DC, Wentz LM.The compelling link between physical activity and the body’s defense system.J Sport Health Sci. 2019;8(3):201-217. doi:10.1016/j.jshs.2018.09.009

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