Despite the physical challenges, the joys of traveling often outweigh the temporary toll it takes on your body. Being mindful of your health, maintaining a balanced lifestyle, and listening to your body's needs can help minimize the negative effects of travel and ensure a more enjoyable experience.
Why Is Travel So Hard on Your Body?
Hopefully, your travels are peaceful and relaxing - but often, we are in a rush to plan and pack. We race to the airport or race to head out before we hit traffic. We are stressed, hurried, and harried. Some negative consequences include:
- Lack of quality sleep
- Lack of good, nutritious food (drive-through and convenience store snacks are often on the menu)
- Lack of physical activity
- Lack of “you” time (meditation, quiet time, reflection, etc., take a back seat)
- Heightened stress levels (this not only affects the mind, it leaves the body vulnerable to colds, injuries, headaches, and other issues)
Further, if you are traveling by air, you are 100 times more likely to get a cold, are exposed to high levels of germs and bacteria, and are more likely to experience bloating, swelling, and dehydration.
It’s enough to make you want to stay home and huddle under the covers! The good news is that there are a variety of easy steps you can take to counteract the toll travel takes on your body - so you can stay healthy and have a wonderful time with loved ones.
Six Tips for Staying Healthy While Traveling
1. Make Sleep a Priority
When you do not sleep enough, you are susceptible to overeating, fatigue, dizziness, and mood changes. We know you’re busy, but if you stay organized, you can give yourself enough time to sleep. Schedule six to nine hours a night (whatever is optimal for you). You will get more done if you are rested.
How do you stay organized? Make a list of items you need to pack, keep a folder with all of your travel documents, use an app to check off your to-do list, or keep track of your shopping list. Better yet, cut down on your lists and focus on being present while traveling.
2. Fight Stress
Whether you’re visiting family or taking a vacation in warmer climates, carve out time for you. This will help you battle the stress that comes with traveling. Find a yoga class or stream one from your phone, listen to a guided meditation on YouTube or via an app, take a long hot bath, schedule a massage, pray, or visit a house of worship… whatever works for you, make time for it.
Again, you will be able to get more done if you are less stressed - but more importantly, you will enjoy your trip a great deal more.
3. Stay Active
Physical activity boosts mood and energy levels: just what the doctor ordered when you are traveling! You may not be able to do your normal routine, but you can take a walk, hit the hotel pool or fitness room, or stream a workout video (there are many that require no equipment and that you can do anywhere from your parents’ guest room to the hotel to the park).
Take advantage of your surroundings. If you are going to a white sandy destination, take a walk on the beach, swim, or dive. If you are enjoying a cold, snowy destination, go snowshoeing, skating, skiing, or sledding. Build a snowman with the kids. There are plenty of options no matter where we go and for what reason when we make exercise a priority. And you will feel so much better after!
4. Eat Well
When we are traveling and not following our normal routine, it is much easier to eat unhealthily, and more than we need to. There are so many temptations lurking in the form of food and drinks. Don’t deprive yourself of special treats but make sure not to overindulge to the point of misery. Planning your meals and your “indulgences” is important in taking care of your body.
Plan to make healthy choices. Start with a good, balanced breakfast, eat regular meals, and skip the snacks if you are planning a good dinner (and dessert!). Fiber- and protein-rich foods will help keep you full between meals, and don’t forget your veggies and fruit.
It is hard to eat well while you are en route to your destination: instead of a greasy burger and salty fries, opt for a salad with a protein, hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, peanut butter, or a turkey sandwich on wheat bread. A trip to the grocery store is just as quick as a fast-food restaurant.
5. Drink Less - and More
Traveling is the perfect time to enjoy a glass or two of your favorite beverages. But try to moderate. You will keep the calories down (to save for the big meal!) and feel much better in the morning.
You will want to drink a lot more water. When you are properly hydrated, you feel better, think more clearly, and have more energy. Carry a water bottle with you and sip on it regularly in the car, on the plane, and as you explore the area. Add some lemon or orange slices if you want a boost of flavor. Hot herbal teas are also a great choice - hydration and warmth!
6. Visit Your Chiropractic Before and After You Travel
Gentle, noninvasive chiropractic care delivers a number of benefits to the body and mind, from relieving pain and discomfort to boosting immune response and reducing anxiety and depression. This will help you prepare for travel and come back to everyday life refreshed and rejuvenated.
Have you heard of Sitting Disease? This is one of the effects of traveling and how it can be hard on the body - but with these easy tips, you can stay healthy, energetic, and mindful before, during, and after traveling!
Monitto Chiropractic for Your Traveling Body
If you are planning on traveling and are interested in helping your body recover from traveling, give us a call today at (828) 252-7400 or visit our website!
We at Monitto Chiropractic look forward to coming alongside you and helping you take care of your body to improve your quality of life.