How to Be a Mindful Traveler
How to Be a Mindful Traveler
Every year we break travel records around the world. People move. To work, to migrate for a better life, to visit relatives, to have fun, or for vacation. Travel has become more accessible than ever. But people tend to forget that traveling means adjusting our routines and respecting the surroundings more than we are used to in our hometown. This is not a standard to-do guide; this is a piece of advice to do things the right way.
1. Ask before taking pictures, capturing everydayness can be an act of art…or exploitation
For you, it's a great picture from a dreamy vacation; for someone else, it's their daily commute to work. While capturing the scenery, try to avoid people's faces. This is especially common when people travel to rural areas in Asia and Africa, where (just as everywhere else) it's not natural to walk around with a huge camera and take close-ups of locals. You wouldn't want that either in your house! Privacy is key, especially in times of hyper-connected social media, where one post can reach millions of people worldwide.
2. Quiet Down
Love the enthusiasm! But hate the noise…. While being on the go and seeing new things, it's normal to be ecstatic. After all, that's a mind-blowing discovery; we don't actually have "at home," but when multiplied, the noise produced becomes unbearable - for locals and fellow travelers. That applies to another piece of advice I have: don't speak loudly in your mother tongue thinking nobody will understand you. I assure you - there's at least one person in that crowd who knows exactly what you are saying.
3. Engage Rather Than Consume
Touristic attractions offer a lot of insight into a country's history, culture, and tradition…but so does the street, a community centre, and a shared restaurant table. Use your senses to notice the smells, sounds, and sights around you instead of rushing to the next spot. Sometimes slowing down means gaining more than getting more.
4. Don't Pretend to Be Local and Don't Stay Foreign
The famous TikTok trend goes: "Me, after ordering the full meal in English but saying 'Grazie' at the end." It's funny and iconic, because it's so true. We tend to adopt small customs we associate with the culture of the country we're in. What works best for me is asking locals or newly met fellow travelers about their takes on blending into the culture and actually adopting those little things. It's way easier when we admit: "I am new here, but I want to learn; I want to join your culture" — even if it is just for a week or two.
There's a distinctive difference between being a traveler and being a tourist. But I guess this list applies to both equally. After all, the most important thing is to stay mindful and open-minded.
