The holidays are stressful, this seems to be a given. But what if you could spend that precious time off from work doing something you really love? Family time can be stressful, but there is an alternative: travel. When I was starting to feel overwhelmed by family pressures, I decided to book a vacation abroad. I chose to spend that time off exploring the streets of Naples and Rome, spending my vacation time relaxing, recharging, indulging in some fantastic food and taking in all the culture and art I could stand. Granted, I took this trip with my partner, but I treated it as I have treated so many solo trips before.

Solo travel has so, so, so many benefits. It’s an opportunity to get away from what stresses you out most, to recharge and get some real rest, and to have some time for introspection and self discovery. If you have the means to do so, and it doesn’t have to be an extravagant or far away jaunt, then go! Go to that cute town two hours down the road and shack up for a few nights; finally make your escape to a gorgeous and calm oceanfront or the top of a lonely mountain; finally seek out that really interesting city you’ve been meaning to visit and dance the night away. Whatever vacation means to you, the holidays are actually the perfect time to do it.

Beyond it being good for your mental health and your own growth, people are also especially kind during the holidays. If you’re staying at a bed and breakfast or in a hostel, I can guarantee that there will either be other solo travelers who you can connect with or the hosts themselves might invite you to some kind of holiday tradition that may be completely different than your own. Even when my boyfriend and I traveled to Italy this past new year, our hosts for our AirBnBs went out of their way to make sure we knew the best places to go and that we had plans for our holiday. And sometimes you might be able to experience something you might not be able to at any other time of year. In Naples they have what’s called Via di Natale, or Christmas Street, where local woodworking vendors along one street all create figurines for nativity scenes and decorations for Natale; and it’s only on from the end of November through Epiphany.

Taking the time away can also be a form of self-care. If you’re really stressed out at work and you’re not getting much of a break from that stress at home, it’s easy to lose sight of the point of the holidays: to relax and celebrate with family. If your family has some toxic elements (and let’s be honest, what family doesn’t?) and you need to take some time away, travel is also the best excuse to use. Plus, taking the time to travel means you have a few extra days to get everyone gifts and you can bring back something much more meaningful than whatever you were going to order on Amazon Prime anyways.

So when you feel that urge to pack up and get away from it all, don’t fight it; heed it. Get out there and see the world and take care of yourself instead.