With busy schedules and a million things on your mind, conscious living can help turn down the noise. When you deliberately focus on living life on your own terms, you’re becoming more aware and active rather than just being a passive participant in your life. Turning inward and better understanding your thoughts and actions adds so many benefits to your life. It’s also why sustainable travel and living are so intertwined.
When you’re more conscious of how your presence affects the world, you can align the way you travel and live your life. If traveling is one of your passions (as it is mine!), there are impactful ways you can still travel and do it more intentionally.
Your conscious journey starts here with responsible travel backed by a conscious living mindset. Now, it’s time to pack your bags and get ready for a new adventure!
How to Travel with Conscious Living in Mind
The first step of your conscious travel planning is creating your traveling checklist. This will include all of your trip information, such as your itinerary, packing list, and to-do list before you leave. Instead of trying to fit in all of the most popular sights and destinations, take this with a more simplified approach. When you start to plan your conscious living inspired vacation, there are a few important things to keep in mind.
Start with these conscious journey tips when embarking on your next trip:
Choose Sustainable Accommodation
Choosing where to stay when you travel can have a massive impact not only on your environment but on your inner health and happiness. Research sustainable accommodation options that are conscious of the environment around them and the travelers within them. Sustainability doesn’t mean you have to compromise on luxury – there are plenty of luxurious sustainable resorts and hotels to choose from. Let your anxiety melt away as you feel calm and relaxed in your eco friendly living oasis.
When searching for sustainable hotels, here’s what to look for:
- Commitment to lowering environmental impact through things like water conservation efforts, green energy sources, and plastic-free amenities.
- Empowerment of local communities by hiring local staff, using local suppliers, and preserving the cultural traditions of the area.
- Encouragement of guests to participate in eco friendly living and activities by offering things like filtered water refill stations, recycling bins, bicycles, and mindfulness activities like meditations or yoga.
These are just a few of the ways hotels and other accommodation options can make an effort to support sustainable travel and living.
Support the Local Culture
Your traveling checklist doesn’t need to include a whole bunch of tourist attractions. Shop local, eat local, explore local by venturing outside city-centers and embracing the unknown. When you immerse yourself in more local experiences, you’re are not only practicing conscious living but also helping give back to the community you’re visiting.
Here are some great ways to support local businesses on your trip:
- Shop at local markets that sell locally grown produce and unique handmade crafts made by locals. These markets also often sell local cuisine options so you can embrace the local food scene.
- Hire a local guide to show you around your destination. Since they’re local, they can show you all of the best spots that most tourists skip when they visit.
- Learn about local events such as festivals, concerts, and other cultural events online or at the concierge. Experience the local community and see how area natives celebrate special occasions, holidays, and traditions.
Practice Slow Travel
As you start to plan your itinerary, remember to take it slow. Slow travel leaves space for a more authentic, intentional, and conscious journey.
Travel more slowly on your next trip by:
- Traveling in the off-season to avoid crowds and high-season tourist chaos
- Choosing quality over quantity with the things you do and see
- Leaving space in your schedule for wandering and exploring
- Walking everywhere, you can take in everything around you
- Sitting at parks or cafes for resting and people-watching
This type of travel helps you not only enjoy your trip, but achieve a (likely much-needed) peaceful mind.
Embrace Sustainable Travel and Living
When you plan your next trip, align your itinerary with your aspirations of conscious living. Make an effort to book sustainable hotels, support the local culture, and practice slow travel. The conscious journey when traveling is so much more rewarding for your mind, body, and spirit. By prioritizing sustainable travel and living, you allow yourself more time to experience and enjoy the beautiful destination right in front of you.
Searching for more conscious living and slow travel content? Read more on my blog or follow me on Instagram for travel tips and inspo for your next trip. From tasty and healthy recipes to my travel experiences, you’ll find it all!
Leave a comment below if you found this blog post helpful—I’d love to hear your thoughts.
