Why You Should Leave Your Hometown Once in a While
I was sitting in the passenger seat on a short drive with my family, watching the clouds stretch across the sky, when I realized how these short trips out of town meant just as much as traveling to a new country. Nothing about the drive was dramatic… no big destination, no major plan… but something about being in motion made me feel lighter. Like my thoughts had more room to breathe.
When you stay in the same place for too long, life can start to feel repetitive without you noticing. Your routines blur together. Your world shrinks quietly. Leaving your hometown, even briefly, interrupts that cycle… and sometimes that interruption is exactly what you need.
It’s not about crossing oceans… It’s about just getting a few miles away from the familiar. Whether it’s a weekend trip, a drive to a nearby town, or simply exploring a different neighborhood, leaving your hometown for a bit can work wonders for your mindset.
There are so many ways to go about this. My family's favorite became Friday meals in a new town. Every Friday, we would jump into our Jeep and cruise down country roads in search of a new place to eat.
This is for my Midwestern people: just because you’re from a corn state, it doesn’t mean there aren’t things to do and explore! I’m from rural Ohio, but when we take the unknown paths around small towns, we’re bound to find something new and exciting. From doing this, we found dams, waterfalls, man-made lakes, walking trails, and so many other small activities to enjoy. Check out local museums and hop onto social media to find events at local libraries or other town locations!
Now that you know some possible ways to get out and explore, why is this switch-up so good for you?
A Change of Scenery Refreshes Your Mind
When you’re always surrounded by the same places, routines, and people, your brain can fall into autopilot. Stepping into a new environment (no matter how close) can spark new ideas, lift your mood, and give you a mental reset.
Try taking a walk in a new park, visiting a nearby city, or booking a spontaneous overnight stay somewhere you’ve never been before. Do some local shopping, try a new café, or find a new walking path surrounded by nature. There’s always something to look out for, and there’s room for a new experience.
For me, I often feel stuck, restless, or bored when I’m in the same place for a long period of time. Maybe I’m going to classes on campus, hanging out around home, or visiting the same nature preserve to take walks. I get wrapped up in the same locations, and eventually, I need to find something new. This is how I break those feelings.
Being somewhere new doesn’t just change your surroundings, though. It changes how you think. Just like that drive, movement has a way of loosening thoughts you didn’t realize were stuck.
You Gain Perspective on What You Have (and What You Want)
Leaving your hometown helps you see it more clearly. You might return with a deeper appreciation for where you’re from… or realize it’s time to grow beyond it. Either way, perspective is powerful.
The beauty of travel is finding out your place in society and how you fit in. You learn so many new things about yourself, your wants, and your desires. You start to figure out what you want in life and how you can make those new adjustments.
You might learn that you, in fact, do not love where you currently live and that it’s time for a switch-up. You may also learn that you definitely love where you’re from, and you find that root inside of you that feels proud and happy.
Traveling gives you the chance to feel great about where you’re at, or gives you the opportunity to make it better. This could mean moving – but it doesn’t have to! Maybe you can figure out new ways to make your current location even better. You can join town hall meetings, join local groups, and give suggestions so you can live in an even better area.
It Breaks the Cycle of Routine and Stagnation
Staying is easier. Staying is familiar. Staying doesn’t ask you who you are when no one is watching. But that ease comes at a cost.
When life starts feeling repetitive or dull, even a short getaway can give you something to look forward to, something to talk about, and a new way of seeing the world around you.
Humans love a good routine. We all fall into one. However, that can get so boring, and it begins to wear you down! We wake up, eat our favorite breakfast, head on over to work or school, go back home, maybe fit in a few hobbies, eat, sleep, then repeat. This is fine, but it’s good to break up that routine and experience something new.
Our minds are meant to constantly learn and encounter new things. The best way to do that is by going outside and having a hands-on experience. To put it simply: Go touch some grass!
Go out and find a place to kayak, or somewhere to jump into a pond. If it’s winter, find a place to ice skate, or a new café and bookstore in a town you haven’t been to.
A 15-minute drive could completely shift your bleak days and put you in a positive mood!
You Discover New Sides of Yourself
When you’re outside your usual comfort zone, you often act differently… in a good way! You might be more curious, more spontaneous, or more observant. These small adventures help you reconnect with parts of yourself that routine can hide.
You may discover a new hobby, like journaling about your experiences, painting your new surroundings, or discovering a new book while at a café. When you go out to explore, you’re bound to witness something new – something that will excite you.
This helps you reconnect with yourself and pick up new passions that exponentially improve your quality of life.
You don’t have to escape your life, buy an expensive ticket, or even go far away. You just have to step outside of where you’re from once in a while. Take that 15-minute drive, that 30-minute walk, or even that train to a nearby city to switch up your norm every once in a while. It may not be every week, or even every month, but the occasional stops throughout the year can absolutely improve your lifestyle.
This weekend, find a new spot near you that you haven’t visited!