Why Travel is Actually Good for Your Mental Health

That switch — psychologists call it novelty response — is why travel can feel like hitting “refresh” on your mental health. You’re literally waking your brain up. But what’s interesting is how small that reset can be. You don’t need a meditation retreat or a six-month sabbatical; sometimes, a few days in a new city — surrounded by new people, doing things you’d never normally do — is enough.

Trying Something (Completely) New

You know that slightly awkward, “do I even know the rules?” feeling when you try something new? That’s actually your brain growing. New activities — even silly ones — trigger neuroplasticity, which strengthens creativity and adaptability. Researchers have found that novel experiences stimulate new neural connections, which are directly linked to creativity and problem-solving.

That’s why at Generator we’re big on light-hearted firsts. The kind that don’t need skills, just curiosity. Shuffleboard in London, pétanque in Copenhagen, or karaoke in Hamburg after a beer (or two). You might start the night thinking, “I’m terrible at this,” and end it singing with three new friends you met five minutes ago.

And the best bit? Those moments where you stop caring what you look like — they’re exactly what psychologists call positive risk: tiny acts of bravery that teach your brain, “I can do new things.”

People Make Places (and Better Days)

If there’s one thing loneliness hates, it’s shared laughter. Modern travel can feel isolating — scrolling in your bunk, half-watching the city go by through your phone screen. But when you find your people, even temporarily, the whole city changes colour.

That’s why Generator’s lobbies never stay quiet for long. There’s always something going on — quiz nights, group dinners, board-game tournaments, open-mic sessions where someone inevitably does “Wonderwall” (and everyone inevitably joins in). You don’t have to plan anything. You just show up, and the city meets you halfway.

Science backs it up too: social connection is one of the strongest predictors of long-term happiness. You don’t need deep talks — just the easy, everyday kind of togetherness that happens when someone hands you a dice, a drink, or a lyric sheet.

Micro-Moments of Awe

Big cities aren’t always peaceful, but they’re full of small wonders. Sunlight bouncing off the Seine, steam from a bakery vent in Rome, a busker’s song echoing through a tunnel in Berlin. Those moments — fleeting, sensory, unfiltered — are what psychologists call awe triggers. They’re proven to lift mood and lower stress because they pull your attention outward, away from your own head and into the world again.

Generator’s team knows this well. Ask at the desk and they’ll point you to their favourite “five-minute awe spots”: the park bench with the view, the local bridge at dusk, the best street corner for people-watching. The real city is rarely on the map.

The Power of Anticipation (and the Afterglow)

There’s a reason booking a trip makes you instantly happier: it gives you something to look forward to. Studies show that even anticipating travel increases life satisfaction. That little mental countdown is dopamine in disguise. And when you come back, the glow doesn’t disappear — every time you look at your photos, or hear the song that played that night in the bar, your brain replays the feeling.

At Generator, we see that glow daily. Guests arrive tired, cautious, jet-lagged — and leave a few days later lighter, louder, more alive. Sometimes all it takes is a game, a gig, a walk, or a night that went off-script.

So Maybe It’s Not About Escape at All

Maybe travel isn’t about running away — maybe it’s about coming back to yourself. The version of you that laughs louder, sleeps deeper, tries new things, and remembers how big the world really is.

And if you need a place to start, you’ll find one in every Generator city: a shuffleboard table waiting, a karaoke mic humming, a few like-minded travellers ready to share a drink — and maybe a story or two.