Traveling is a wonderful privilege with so many benefits. When we travel, we improve our communication and social skills as we adapt to new surroundings. Traveling helps break you out of a rut and re-sets the mind to being present in the moment.

The activities we engage in while traveling are beneficial, as well. We often get a lot more exercise in a different location whether it’s pounding the pavement around a new city or trying a new water sport on a beach vacation. Furthermore, taking a tour or visiting a local museum while traveling gives you a living education.

Travel provides a great opportunity for bonding between family and friends, but it’s just as beneficial if you want to get to know yourself better. When we take time out of our lives to travel, we become better and more well-rounded people.

One reason people avoid traveling is because they worry about their homes when they are gone. It makes sense among the things burglars admit to looking for are homes with visible signs that the family is out of town. However, that shouldn’t keep you from pursuing all of the benefits of travel. Take the following steps to secure your home and make sure it is safe from crime while you are on the road.

Secure Your Social Media

Look, we love a good Facebook update as much as anyone. But when it comes to your travel plans, it’s best to keep mum. A recent study found approximately 78 percent of burglars are using social media to pick out targets for their next score. One way you can prevent this from happening to you is by turning on all the possible privacy settings on all of the social media accounts you use so they are not visible by the public. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re safe. Criminals can establish fake accounts and find loopholes that allow them to see what you post. Because of this, your best bet is to avoid posting your travel plans on your social media accounts, especially the dates you will be gone. Not only is it safer, it gives you the opportunity to unplug and enjoy your vacation while living in the moment.

Don’t Leave Your Home Alone

If burglars target empty homes, one of the best things you can do as a homeowner is make sure someone else is in there when you are not. A house sitter is a simple and elegant solution for nervous travelers. They can be the person you check-in with daily for a bit of peace of mind. House sitters also can care for the house and prevent those telltale signs of an owner out of town like piled-up mail or an overgrown lawn.

Even if you don’t need a full-fledged house sitter while you are gone, it’s good to create the illusion of traffic in your home. Ask your neighbors to periodically park in your driveway while you are gone. Seeing cars come and go can be a great deterrent for burglars.

More Safe Travel Tips

If you are a senior, you probably have more travel worries than just a home break-in back home. However, retirement is a wonderful opportunity to start enjoying all the benefits of travel after working all your life. For peace of mind, prepare yourself mind and body for your trip. Check your insurance policy to make sure you have adequate coverage on your trip. Look into supplemental travel insurance if your agent offers it. Talk to your doctor about the medications you have to take with you and any side effects that may be triggered by travel. Make copies of your prescriptions and find out their names in the language of the country you are going to if it is something other than English. Don’t forget to make copies of any other important documents you need-- things like your passport, entry permits and documentation of your travel insurance.

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Traveling is great for the mind, body, and soul. But if you feel anxious about leaving your home behind, you’re not going to truly enjoy your travel experience. Alleviate your anxiety by keeping your itinerary off social media and enlisting the help of a house sitter or neighbors to create traffic on your property. Seniors can also secure themselves by talking to their doctors and insurance agents before their trip.