Words by Sandra Simpson // Photo by averie woodard
In the modern world, busyness is worn like a badge of honour and I’ve definitely pinned it to my chest more than once. Even travel culture feeds into it. Scroll Instagram for thirty seconds and you’ll see influencers squeezing four cities into five days, smiling heroically through jet lag and bad coffee. It creates this quiet pressure to keep up, to do more, see more, tick everything off. But are we really living? What’s the result of being so rushed? Packed itineraries driven by FOMO, where travel starts to feel like another job. Instead of coming home inspired, I’ve often come back depleted.
That’s where slow travel entered my life. Slow travel is about depth over distance, meaning over metrics, and presence over pressure. And honestly, it’s become less about how I travel and more about how I live.
Why slow travel is a powerful way to cultivate wellness
When people hear “slow travel,” they often imagine retirees on a cruise ship, playing backgammon and having naps (although to be honest, this doesn’t sound half bad). But that’s not really what I’m talking about. For me, it’s about moving with intention. Not racing from landmark to landmark, but allowing moments of real presence. Lingering over an espresso, sitting on a park bench watching the way locals move through their day, stopping just because something catches my eye. There’s science behind it too: unhurried experiences activate the parasympathetic nervous system, nudging us into rest-and-digest mode and away from the fight-or-flight state most of us live in.
Here are some of the most powerful ways slow travel has supported my wellbeing:
Slow travel gives you the gift of rest
Have you ever come home from a holiday more exhausted than when you left, immediately declaring you need another holiday to recover? Same. Traditional travel often mirrors everyday life, overscheduled, overbooked, constantly “on.” Slow travel flips that entirely. It gives you permission to listen to what you actually need.
Maybe that means sleeping in. Maybe it means video calling your best friend to gush about where you are (and if you plan to do that, I genuinely recommend looking into Holafly’s eSIM for the UK or another destination of your choice. It makes connectivity easy without the roaming bill anxiety). Or maybe it means spending an entire afternoon watching waves roll in instead of hustling to the next attraction.
What happens is subtle but powerful: your brain settles. Your body syncs with the place you’re in. Even busy cities feel softer, more grounded. You enjoy travel more and you come home lighter, rested, and emotionally restored.
Slow travel helps you find clarity and gratitude
Beyond the slower pace, slow travel creates emotional space. Time to release, reflect, and realign. When I stay somewhere longer and stop rushing, I start noticing what actually matters. Simplicity becomes soothing. Nature becomes grounding. Conversations become meaningful.
Longer stays also create room for self-care. I journal more. I notice gratitude sneaking in. Slow travel, at its core, feels like an emotional detox. And in that quieter space, I’ve often realised that the thing I thought I was searching for “out there” was already inside me.
Slow travel allows you to connect deeply with places and people
It’s hard to notice anything when you’re rushing. Traditional travel can feel surprisingly lonely, always moving on before you’ve really arrived. Slow travel changes that. You start noticing small details: the way light hits old walls, a local dog that joins your walk, the barista who starts remembering your order.
You become a familiar face. You talk to hosts and neighbours. You might even join a community event. When you travel slowly, you’re not just a tourist, you’re a temporary local. That sense of belonging feeds social wellness, which research shows is a strong predictor of both happiness and longevity.
Slow travel encourages natural, embodied living
Slow travel often means walking more, hiking, cycling, or using public transport instead of being ferried from one “must-see” to the next. It’s not about exercise for exercise’s sake, it’s about living naturally. Gentle movement, fresh air, real landscapes.
Time spent on local trails, in quiet coastal towns, or among trees does wonders for mood and mental health, something we desperately need in a world dominated by screens. Add in slower meals made with fresh, local food and your body starts to feel balanced again. Nourished. In flow.
The bottom line
Slow travel isn’t just a way to holiday, it’s a philosophy of living. One that aligns beautifully with wellness and leaves you calmer, more connected, more present, and more alive.
Next time you plan a trip, try resisting the urge to see everything. Leave some boxes unchecked. Give yourself the gift of going slowly. The lessons — gratitude, balance, mindfulness — don’t stay on the road. They come home with you.
Yes, it takes intention. Yes, you’ll have to unlearn FOMO and old habits. But the makes it entirely worth it. Once you experience the world this way, it’s very hard to go back to busy travel again.
