💭5 Notes: How travel affects your brain, new culture and languages, and Ellie's adventure

Welcome to 5 Notes! Today, we're chatting about:

• Today’s affirmation for space

• What happens to our brain when we travel

• How to learn a new language at your own pace

• Tips for preparing for a trip

• Ellie’s Adventure

Today’s Affirmation

“I can hold space for both effort and ease.”

What Happens to Your Brain When You Travel

Travel isn’t just an escape. It’s a reset for your mind. Stepping away from routine helps break cycles of stress and brings new energy to your life. Studies show that exploring new places boosts creativity, lowers anxiety, and improves your overall outlook. Even short trips can make a difference, helping you return home with more focus and joy.

Meeting new people and experiencing new cultures also builds empathy and connection, which are key to emotional well-being. Movement and time outdoors, whether hiking, walking through a market, or skiing down a mountain, trigger the same hopeful, mood-boosting effects as mindfulness.

Travel can also strengthen relationships and a sense of purpose. Sharing moments with loved ones, supporting local communities, or simply doing something you love gives your brain a powerful dose of happiness. Wherever you go next, think of it as nourishment for your mind as much as an adventure for your soul.

Learn A New Language At Your Own Pace

A slower season can be the perfect time to start something new. Rosetta Stone is offering lifetime access to all 25 languages for $149—no subscriptions or renewals, just unlimited learning at your own pace.

With the Dynamic Immersion® method and TruAccent® pronunciation technology, lessons feel intuitive, helping users build real-world conversation skills naturally and confidently.

Whether it’s for travel, connection, or the joy of learning, Rosetta Stone makes it easy to keep curiosity in motion.

Get Lifetime Access for $149

Thank you to Rosetta Stone for sponsoring Note To Self.

Smart Ways to Reduce Travel-Related Stress

Travel should lift your spirits, not drain them. A little planning goes a long way in keeping your mind at ease. Before you go, check in with your healthcare provider, pack any medications you’ll need, and give yourself time to prepare mentally for the change of pace.

On the road, keep simple habits: eat well, move often, and get enough rest. If stress creeps in, slow down and reconnect with what grounds you, whether that’s journaling, deep breaths, or calling a friend.

When you get home, take a day or two to unwind before diving back into your routine.

Self-Care with Ellie: On An Adventure

Enjoying Note to Self?