Lots of Travel Coming Up? Here's How to Stay Healthy
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By: Suzanne Kvilhaug
I find myself throwing a banana in my bag whenever I travel. Then every single time without fail, I end up having to throw away a sad-looking banana and I swear that I won’t bring one again. I think it’s my way of making sure that I have a piece of fruit on me at all times “in the event of”. In the event of what? Well, I still haven't come across something yet to justify the banana but maybe I will on my next trip...
Personal wellness usually takes a backseat when you travel for many different reasons. Although it requires some planning and the right mindset, staying healthy while traveling is entirely possible. It really isn’t as difficult as you may think plus you get to really enjoy your trip that much more because of how you feel. I’ve been on a little bit of a travel spree lately and here’s how I found that you can do it.
Put a grocery store run first on your to-do list
I’ve gone as far as booking a place near a good grocery store but that’s just me. I understand that may be pushing it but what’s not pushing it is putting a grocery store stop as #1 on your to-do list when you arrive. This lets you choose healthy food that you truly like to have on hand and it’s necessary in order to load up on bottles of drinking water. There’s nothing worse than not having a ton of water accessible and always having to stop or even worse, being dehydrated on a trip. A one-and-done trip to grab healthy staples and H2O can be a travel game-changer.
Fight the desire to choose a lot of unhealthy restaurants no matter how appealing they may be
Killjoy alert. Even though part of the fun of traveling is going out to eat all the time, it can backfire. Stomach aches, slow digestion, and bloating oh my. If you’re always choosing with your heart vs. your head, odds are high that you’re going to feel crappy. And who wants to feel crappy while traveling?! That motto of “don’t trade what you want most for what you want in the moment” is applicable here. I always think of it when I’m wanting to try spots that look good but aren’t going to make me feel good. I feel like this is a major reason why traveling can become so unhealthy because of poor restaurant selection. The thing is, you can still pick great places with great food that are on the healthier side.
A little planning and a little willpower can be the difference between how you feel. All vegans know that there’s healthy vegan and unhealthy vegan. As a vegan traveling to a vegan mecca, I was faced with this dilemma. Do I paint the town red every night and throw caution to the wind with all my food choices or start off with healthier vegan spots and see if I could stick to them? One of my beginning healthy vegan choices was such a hit that it canceled out my desire to go anywhere else. I was in a food utopia while remaining healthy for the rest of the trip and how thankful I ended up being for the strategy and the discovery. Being open to healthier restaurants can have you stumbling upon a new favorite and keeping you from a whole lot of regret.
Use intermittent fasting to your advantage
I was about to travel for nearly an entire day recently when it dawned on me that it would be the perfect opportunity to spend time fasting. Maybe this is a strategy that people already think to use but I definitely felt like Einstein when the idea came to me. Instead of choosing unhealthy options or stressing about what to eat while en route, consider not eating at all. Think of it as a time to give your digestion a break and kick off a little reboot of your system. If you’re worried it’ll leave you lethargic, usually it’s the opposite as intermittent fasting can boost energy, mental clarity and reduce inflammation. Less food for a period of time = more spunk, fewer worries.
Have natural stress remedies on hand
The security lines at the airport aren’t for the faint of heart. And if you’ve got a fear of flying or you’re not totally comfortable with any kind of travel, you’re going to feel stressed before, during, and after if you don’t learn coping strategies. Consider traveling with great products aimed to help you destress like essential oils and if needed carry natural motion sickness remedies. Want to really try and combat stress? Start meditating while you’re in the car, on a train, or in an airplane.
Pack your pillow
It amazes me how different pillows can be and sometimes you don’t realize how different they are until it’s too late. You end up stuck using a pillow (is this thing made out of napkins?!) that keeps you from getting a good night’s sleep. Lack of sleep could lead to a sour mood and put a damper on your vacation... all because of a pillow. If you really love your pillow and you’re specific about them, bring it with you. Fearful of the pillow picking up germs? Pack a pillowcase to put on it when you get to where you’re going.
Bring the right skincare products along
Dry and dull skin begone! Airplane air and everything else that goes along with traveling can result in your skin taking a hit. It’s not just in your head that your skin isn’t exactly glowing like it was last week, it’s the reality. But all hope is not lost! Be prepared and bring products that specifically help to moisturize. And just like that, your glow is back!
Don’t skimp on supplements
Most people take vitamins, supplements, or both and it can be tempting to go without them while you’re on the road. Don’t go without them! Keeping supplements that you know help you feel better in your routine is even more necessary while traveling. Buy cute little containers, stick a label on them, and voila, business as usual. And if you’re not already using an immunity booster in your regular regimen, add one for travel.
Exercise more the week before you travel
There are 3 strategies you can have when you’re traveling when it comes to exercise. Work out a lot, work out a little, or don’t work out at all. If you prefer to work out a little but you don’t prefer to go out of your way to get workouts in while traveling (raising my hand) then consider revving up workouts the week before and the week after. This keeps your fitness base strong and gives you the freedom to enjoy your trip without that annoying thought in the back of your mind that you should be working out more. If you do want to work out on the go, consider a streaming program like Openfit that you can access from anywhere to squeeze in a little exercise.
Stock up on good travel size items
Even if I don’t have any trips planned in the near future, if I see a travel size item from a great brand it IS going in the carriage. It always feels like such a find and when I’m packing it away for the next time I pack, I can’t help but feel pure joy looking at it. Sure, you can put your own products in containers but there is something magical about these mini-sized high-quality products. Sick of using lackluster soap that most places provide? Bring these handcrafted little soaps along with you. They are by far my favorite find and I don’t go anywhere without one. The other advantage of bringing products and brands you know is that you won’t risk having an adverse reaction from using unknown products wherever you’re staying.
Get a massage right before you leave
Ok fine, I will book a massage appointment for my health! Think about it. You’re about to travel and inevitably experience some stressful situations and what better way to decompress and physically feel best for what’s ahead. Imagine leaving the massage and regretting it? Exactly, you won’t...throw it in the pre-travel stay healthy strategy!
Excited to see if you can stay healthy on your next trip? Here are some articles to keep you inspired.
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