Traveling doesn’t have to mean leaving your healthy habits behind. With some clever planning and mindfulness, you can stay healthy no matter where you are in the world.
From vacations to work trips, travel is a part of everyday life for many Americans, and while travel is often fun and exciting, it can shake up your healthy routine. Everything from airports and jet lag to being in unfamiliar territory can put a kink in your usual habits. The good news is that you can stay healthy while traveling. Check out these ideas on how to keep up your healthy habits while away.
1. Sleep
Getting enough quality sleep is key to your health. Missing out on even a small amount of shuteye is enough to disrupt your hormones and other important processes regulated by the amount and quality of sleep you get. Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule while away will help keep you on track, so you’ll feel better.
2. Hydrate
It’s easy to forget to stay hydrated when you’re away from home. Traveling is exhausting, and dehydration can easily set in without you realizing it. Stock your hotel room with fresh water, and carry water bottles with you in your bag. Aim to have at least 64 ounces of water each day of your travel.
3. Rest
Resting while traveling may seem like a no-brainer. However, trips are often packed with a busy itinerary of places to go and things to see. You can easily find yourself with no downtime to unwind. Take along a good book and carve out time each day to simply relax, read and recharge. Wellness is about finding balance.
4. Eat well
Just because you’re away from home doesn’t mean you have to throw your healthy eating habits out the window. You can still stick to healthy eating while away from home. Preparation is key. Research the location before you go and plan out healthy meals you can order. Skip fast food joints and stick to sit-down restaurants. There’s no harm in having a treat here or there, but overindulging is a recipe for vacation weight gain.
5. Stay active
Keeping your body moving while on vacation or a work trip can be a simple as taking the stairs instead of the elevator or walking instead of hailing a cab. If you’re on vacation, plan activities that get your muscles moving like swimming, hiking or rock climbing. The more you move, the healthier you’ll feel.
6. Make meals
It’s much easier to stick to a healthy diet when you prepare most of your meals yourself. To accomplish this, book a room with a kitchenette or request a minifridge. Visit the local market and stock your room with fresh fruits and vegetables and prepare nutritious meals to enjoy each day.
7. Pack healthy snacks
Taking healthy snacks could mean the difference between saying no to theme park meals and eating something nutritious instead. Healthy snacks like nuts, low-fat string cheese and low-sugar granola bars can keep you satisfied so you don’t reach for that deep-fried turkey leg at the theme park.
8. Stick to a routine
Disruptions in your routine, whether it be the time you awaken or when you eat your meals, can impact your health while traveling. Schedule out your days away so that you’re remaining as close to your normal routine as possible. This will keep your mind and body in sync.
9. Carry hand sanitizer
Avoiding germs is an often-overlooked aspect of staying healthy while traveling. Being in crowded, busy areas increases your exposure to bacteria and viruses that can make you sick. Carry along hand sanitizer and make a habit of using it regularly on your trip.
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