Between your career, family, never-ending to-do list, and jam-packed schedule, it can be really hard to take some time for yourself. That’s why going on a trip alone can be such a great choice for your health (and sanity!). Just ask Lucy Hale, who’s feelin’ totally refreshed after returning from her first solo adventure.
In a recent Instagram post, the actress dished about the weeklong, spiritually recharging trip she took to Arizona where she got in some much-needed me-time by hiking, meditating, and simply spending time with herself. “I’ve never done this before because I used to feel that putting myself first was selfish. It’s not,” she writes. “Not only is it healthy, but it’s necessary so you can be the best for everyone else around you.”
“I’ve never done this before because I used to feel that putting myself first was selfish. It’s not. Not only is it healthy, but it’s necessary so you can be the best for everyone else around you.” —Lucy Hale
Hale went on to say she knows how easy it is to “get sucked into the vortex of worrying about the next job, the success of a current one, and what others think of you.” But no matter what industry you’re in, she thinks having time to recharge is imperative to your success and your well-being.
“This trip was a beautiful reminder that my health and happiness are crucial to the life I want to live, and in order to be the best I can be for my career and my loved ones, it’s necessary to do really nice things for yourself,” she writes. “I highly recommend treating your mind, body, and spirit right—and taking a solo getaway.”
Whether you head to Arizona like Hale for some time among the heat and cacti, or you climb a mountain, or venture overseas, you’ll thank yourself when you’re heading back to reality with a totally clear head on your shoulders and enough epic memories to last a lifetime.
Here are four things you can only learn by traveling solo. And when you’re ready to spread your wings, these are the 10 under-the-radar world locations you need to visit.