The Surprising Benefits of Traveling to France for Your Brain Health

Discover tranquil magnificence: refresh your mind surrounded by architectural splendor.

Sometimes, what we really need isn’t just a weekend off or a quiet night in—it’s a full reset. Not the kind that comes from rearranging your closet or organizing your email inbox (though I’ve done both on a whim). I mean the kind of reset that starts with packing a bag, grabbing your passport, and stepping into a world where croissants come fresh each morning and the streets were designed for strolling, not stressing.

Travel, I’ve come to realize, is far more than a luxury—it’s mental health care in disguise. There’s science behind it, sure, but also something deeply human. Our brains need new experiences. Novelty lights up the parts of our minds that help us feel joy, presence, and yes—confidence. Especially for women, no matter what age, there’s something undeniably powerful about navigating a new city, mastering a menu in another language, or finding your way without Google Maps (though I’ll never delete it).

When we travel, we shift our internal dialogue. Instead of running the same to-do list on repeat, we start asking questions like “What’s that amazing smell?” or “Should we order another bottle of wine?” The brain relaxes, resets. And guess what? So does our body. Sleep improves (thank you, circadian rhythm). Our mindset shifts toward the positive. We start to feel more like ourselves—maybe even the best version of ourselves.

But it’s more than just rest. Travel gives us proof that we can figure things out, that we’re not stuck in one place—physically or emotionally. Confidence builds with every train we catch, every conversation we stumble through, every photo we take that says, “I was here, and I felt alive.”

So yes, go to France. Wander through the Louvre. Order the cheese you can’t pronounce. Walk until your feet hurt, then sit at a café and watch the world go by. Because your mind needs it. Your heart needs it. And honestly? You deserve it.