Remember Kangana Ranaut’s movie Queen and its lead character Rani? How Rani, a docile and submissive girl, went on a holiday all alone, had a few experiences for the first time in her life and that changed her completely. On her return, she was a confident and headstrong girl. That’s how influential travelling is. It changes us and the way we see the world. And since teenage is the perfect time to create our personalities and values, it becomes even more important.

Below are few reasons how teenagers can benefit from travelling:

Travelling makes you humble

At times, culture shock and experience of how others inhabit a dwelling becomes an important lesson for teens. It teaches them that everything is not about them which gives them perspective and respect. Travel influences the way we look and relate to the world.

Develops cultural sensitivity

In a world of globalization, being culturally sensitive is the key. It has become essential that we look for underlying values that may explain certain behaviour of a nation or community. Engaging oneself in foreign culture allows us to develop cultural sensitivity, acceptance and a more open0minded perspective of the world.

Travelling is an superb way for students to develop some important skills like critical thinking and problem solving. This will enable them to compete in a progressively global economy.

Coming out of Comfort Zone

Teens usually have an established comfort zone with their parents, friends, activities, hangouts and probably a community. Coming out of these daily roles can be scary and. However, the reality is that we learn in the most uncomfortable and unfamiliar situations. So when you travel to a new place and figure out that you can connect with people despite being differences, you learn to navigate through the environment and become smarter and a more competent individual. Embracing this discomfort will not only help you grow but is also the most effective way to build confidence.

Travel is particularly essential for developing Critical Thinking as it forces us to examine our own values and beliefs.

Builds Confidence

There are plenty of obstacles that you need to conquer while travelling. Like how to use public transit, ask for a grocery store or know the directions to your hotel back. This will enable you to build confidence and develop the ability to adapt in unknown situations. It makes you realize that you CAN do things, despite the obstacles.

Learning a New Language

In today’s era of globalization, proficient speaking in two or more languages gives you an edge over the others. Additionally, it opens up a whole new world of people you can connect with and understand. Not to forget that more the languages one knows, the clearer his vocabulary becomes. Travelling is the best way to learn a language as you are then forced to challenge and practice your lingual skills on a daily basis.

It creates an open-minded worldview which enables us to work well with others anywhere in the world.

So if your parents aren’t allowing you to travel or you have a friend, who is a terrible case of home-sickness, tell them why travelling can be extremely helpful in making your personality and giving you a broader perspective of life.

Do you often mood swings and endless arguments which give you sleepless nights? Are you looking for ways to improve concentration? Then reading this article may be a good idea.

We all want a happy and a healthy life. Knowing how to meditate can give us a jump start to accessing the many benefits of meditation. Our brains are tired, and the youth need opportunities where they can take time out each day "unplugged" to relax and focus. Meditation offers this break and helps teenagers to function more effectively and clearly.

Benefits of meditation comprises of:

• Reduces stress, anxiety and even depression
• Improves grades and performance in academics
• Increases attention span and concentration. Meditation teaches us that it’s possible to direct their attention at one thing at a time, and that it actually feels great not to be distracted
• Changes the brain in ways that protect against mental illness and improve control over emotions. Deal with grief and other difficult emotions
• Increases compassion and empathy. The good news is that meditation can bolster feelings of security, empathy and inner stability, and this, in turn, builds compassion, joy and self-esteem.
• Improves sleep as it helps in falling asleep, especially when practiced before bedtime
• Helps in gaining self-awareness and become more confident. The confidence develops naturally when we learn from our meditation practice that we don’t have to react to all of our thoughts and emotions – we can choose which ones merit our attention and response 
• On a more subtle level, we can learn patience, kindness, acceptance, and generosity from meditation. Meditation strengthens relationship with inner selves, your mind/body connection, and development of your personality—all of which make you better able to lead more positive lives and make positive choices for yourselves.

How to try out:

1. Deep Breathing: One of the most effective ways to initiate into meditation is to begin with deep breathing exercises. It helps the mind to focus. To perform this meditation, sit comfortably in a quiet room. Close your eyes and inhale and exhale slowly. Allow your negative thoughts and worries to float out of your mind.

2. Mantra meditation: Focusing on a mantra will keep your mind occupied for a while. Clear your mind, relax, and breathe slowly while repeating the mantra. You can repeat the mantra aloud or in your mind.

3. Visualization technique: Take a few minutes to work with the breath as the object of meditation.  In your mind’s eye, visualize about a pleasant scene, or a fragrance or someone you like. Notice how it feels to be in their presence, and any happiness, warmth, or tenderness that they evoke.

If you are interested in trying mindfulness, then set aside some time to be present and observant. Your can practice this in a quiet room or outside taking a walk or engaging in some other peaceful activity. The idea is to observe the present moment. Rather than trying to clear your mind, as in meditation, you are trying to pay attention to the here and now. You might notice how your body feels, what noises you hear, the comfort of your environment, or what smells are present.

Exploring the idea of meditation is worth the effort. Be encouraged to try meditation just for five minutes a day for three weeks and then decide if the practice is right for you or not.

Teenagers of today will become leader of the future and they need to be centered, strong and good lateral thinkers. For this, they need to be encouraged to practice meditation and access the untapped potential within.