Travelling should be a rejuvenating experience that takes away the stress of a monotonous life. However, it can also take a toll on your health if you are constantly on the go. The glitz and glamour of adventurous trips, unexplored places and exotic foods might look exciting to anyone with wanderlust but shouldn’t come at the cost of your well-being. Thankfully, there are ways to stay healthy without compromising your travel experience. To help you keep up with your travel plans, we’ve compiled 10 tips to stay healthy on vacation.
Wellness Tips to Count on While Travelling
1) Get Good Sleep
Your body needs rest to keep up with the exhausting experience of carrying luggage, waiting in airport queues, crossing time zones and walking all day. That’s why you should get plenty of sleep. Recharge your batteries (pun intended) and don’t exhaust yourself by avoiding comfortable slumber. Lack of sleep not only increases your stress levels but weakens your immune system where you need it the most, in a new place.
2) Exercise Every Other Day
Maintaining a regular workout schedule is impossible when you’re constantly catching flights, visiting places and checking into hotels. But this doesn’t mean you need to stop exercising. Engage in some type of exercise every other day. Dedicate at least 10-15 minutes to exercising in the morning every alternate day before you start your adventure. It could be anything from stretching or meditation to swimming or jumping rope. This will help relax your muscles and give you a better night’s sleep.
3) Stay Hydrated
Dehydration is a constant threat to travel health. Symptoms include dry skin, headaches and low energy levels. Since you’re not following your normal routine when you’re on the go, make a greater effort to drink water. Carry a reusable bottle at all times, fill it up every chance you get and stay hydrated.
4) Detox from the Digital World
Travelling should be about personal experiences, not Instagram posts, selfies and going live on Facebook. You might need some smartphone apps to make your travel easier, but otherwise stay away from gadgets when flying, on airport layovers, riding an airport taxi or resting in your hotel room. Detoxing from the digital world gives your mind and body a boost. It’ll help you feel refreshed and reduce stress.
5) Cut Down on Booze and Sugary Drinks
Limiting alcohol consumption is a good way to cut down on empty calories and stay healthy. Non-alcoholic sweet drinks are also packed with calories and should be avoided. We understand, you’re on holiday and want to loosen up a bit. But not consuming in moderation can negatively affect your health by disrupting your sleep and making you dehydrated.
6) Eat Veggies When You Can
We know sticking to a strict diet is impossible if you have constantly changing culinary surroundings. But many health-related issues can be avoided by picking better food options when you’re travelling. Choose a vegetarian dish or salad to balance your meal while limiting your meat intake. You can also buy fresh veggies from a local market or grocery store to make your own salad.
7) Pace Yourself
Visiting many new places on one trip can be overwhelming, so it’s advisable to chill out and give your mind and body some ‘me’ time. Instead of running around the city every day, leave room between trips to relax and avoid feeling stressed and tired. It’s not necessary to see and do everything. Slow down and focus on making the most of the experiences you do have.
8) Protect Your Skin
When you’re exploring new places, you’re probably outdoors most of the time which exposes you to sunburn. It’s important to protect your skin by wearing sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 15 that you reapply every two hours. Also, if you’re visiting an area with a large population of mosquitoes or the like, wear insect repellent.
9) Take Vitamins
It’s difficult to get healthy, well-balanced meals loaded with essential vitamins when you’re not following your daily routine. To ensure your body gets enough vitamins, supplement your meals with daily multi-vitamins.
10) Walk as Much as You Can
Make the most of this metabolism-boosting activity by walking instead of grabbing public transit. It’s the best way to burn calories and stay in shape on vacation.
A hectic travel plan can negatively impact your health. If you ignore your well-being, your holiday will turn into a nightmare. To maximize your vacations without sacrificing your physical and mental health, follow these tips and see the difference.