Sharpen your mind by living abroad.

According to a study commissioned by the US Travel Association, the new and unusual situations we encounter while traveling - whether trying to figure out how to navigate the local metro system or simply ordering a meal in an unfamiliar language - help to keep our minds sharp.

It was discovered that new and challenging experiences can improve memory and thinking abilities because when your brain is exposed to a new challenging environment, it reacts by forming new connections as it attempts to categorize the unfamiliar and unusual events. This stimulates the brain and keeps it active in the same way that picking up a new hobby or learning a language does.

Those who have lived abroad are more creative, according to a study conducted by Adam Galinsky, a professor at Columbia Business School. According to his studies, the more nations somebody had lived in, the more innovative their work tended to be.

Why hesitate to explore the world? Your brain will thank you.