You may have gotten your sense of humor from your mother or your temperament from your father, but did you know that travel can also affect your personality?

Studies show that the psychological benefits of travel positively impacts several personality factors including creativeness, extraversion, open-mindedness, and happiness.

People are like sponges; we absorb knowledge, which helps shape us as individuals. If you travel, you’re guaranteed to be immersed in a country’s culture. Creativity grows when you embrace the new—new customs, languages, food, fashion, music. Not only do you bring back new experiences, but you also return with a whole new way of thinking about life. People such as Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, known for their creative work, were all avid travelers.

Those who participate in mindful travel are also known to be more extroverted. One study, in particular, took a group of students and split them into two groups: those who studied in another country while they were in college and those who didn’t. Those who studied in another country came back more unreserved and more willing to interact with people beyond their social circles. Travel allows you to leave your comfort zone and forces you to interact with people, cultures, and mindsets that you’re not normally faced with.

Immersing yourself in unfamiliarity also allows for you to become a more open-minded individual. Customs and traditions in places such as France, Croatia, or Japan, are not the same as those in the United States. Visiting another country and learning to appreciate that country’s way of life helps you to understand the world around you. When you return home, you’ll be better at embracing different perspectives and developing problem-solving skills.

But most importantly, travel has been proven to make you happier. Not only are you happy while on your trip, but several studies found that the anticipation of travel impacts you in the same way that the anticipation of buying something you’ve really wanted would. An enthusiastic attitude can improve your work life as well as your personal life. Even after you travel, you’re likely to be more optimistic about your well-being and seek better opportunities for yourself. What’s better than waking up every day excited to live life?

So don’t hesitate—choose from our collection of tours and get traveling yourself!