Why do you need to travel?
Creativity is the answer.
Why do we need creativity? Ryan Le’s short video tells you why creativity is important.
Creativity is not just for artists, poets, musicians, and other similar and wonderful talents.
It’s true that we associate creativity in artists and writers with living in foreign parts. Rudyard Kipling, Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, Paul Gauguin, Samuel Beckett, and others spent years dwelling abroad.
But creativity comes in all shapes and sizes and nothing sparks your creative flame quite like travel does. For centuries the exotic locations, historical stages, and the overwhelming awe of nature’s sublimity inspired the masters, the makers and the dreamers.
In his post “Why Creativity Requires Travel” rosshudgens, he writes:
“People are infinitely curious about the Seth Godin “genius”. How does he constantly pump out day after day of great information and insights? We know, now – he constantly travels. Godin has stated during interviews that he spends most of his time “traveling.”
Five Tips to help you find a creative adventure
1.) Select Five Activities
People seek inspiration in a variety of ways, from meditating on a sustainable wooden platform surrounded by the sounds of the forest, to gliding down a double black diamond in fresh powder. Whether you seek the passive or active approach to inspiration, you need to first define the activities that are a prerequisite to your perfect getaway.
Here’s a sample list:
–Go on at least three dives in warm water teeming with wildlife
–Have an option to spend an entire day on a beautiful and quiet beach with your inspiration
–Tour ancient ruins
–Interact with the locals and an indigenous culture.
–Spend at least three nights in a high-end Eco-lodge surrounded by the sounds of nature with ample opportunities for adventure and spa treatments
2.) Pick the Season and Hemisphere
Next you need to figure out what time of year you are able to travel and which hemisphere will support your adventure.
Here’s a sample season and hemisphere:
If I want to travel in late May / early June, then based on the activity list above and the amount of time to travel (two weeks), you might consider Mexico/Central America region, Europe, parts of the Pacific, and a few other very remote destinations.
3.) Determine Your Budget and Prioritize Your Spending
How much can you spend on this entire adventure and how does that match up to your list? Where would you prefer to spend the bulk of your money? Is it on the flight? On five star accommodations? Or is a day packed with adventure more important than a bed with Egyptian Cotton Sheets?
4.) Find a Location before it “Becomes Trendy”
Unless you want to be lost in a sea of loud and demanding tourists wearing matching sweat suits and sneakers find those locations that aren’t on the top of every must travel list. Find that location that is on the cusp on being the next it place; blaze the traveler trail for others to follow.
–Ask your trusted traveler buddies.
–Blogs and message boards. Find your like-minded community online and see what they are buzzing about. Post questions on travel message boards.
–Find the top 10 spots for the activities you listed in step 1. For instance, if beautiful beaches are your thing then search for the top 10 beaches, then top 10 dive sites, then top 10 Eco lodges, etc.
5.) Build a Loose Itinerary
You should now you have most likely narrowed your destination to 1-2 locales. Start your research and start building a loose itinerary based on your activity list. Some things to consider: 1) don’t locked into reservations unless you absolutely have to; 2) always leave room for some spontaneity as often times some of the best and most inspiring spots are learned about once you are already in the country; 3) don’t overbook yourself, leave space to soak in the experience and charge your creativity.