Staying healthy and getting fit is never easy, but keeping up your good habits while traveling? Well that sometimes seems impossible. But with a few subtle tweaks to your travel routine, and just being a bit more mindful of the choices you make on the road, travel will no longer be its usual hindrance to a healthy lifestyle.
Pack for success
When packing your suitcase make sure to toss a pair of gym clothes and a swimming suit in. Neither take up much room, but just having them with you is often all it takes to get motivated to go on a jog before breakfast, or take a few laps in the hotel pool at the end of the day to unwind.
Snacks are also a necessity to bring, lest you be at the mercy of airport food options. Pack easily transportable and healthy foods like plain popcorn, almonds, protein bars, and fruits and vegetables that will easily keep without refrigeration and won’t bruise (sorry bananas).
Don’t forget water! Bring an empty water bottle to fill up once you pass security and can continue to fill up throughout your trip. Dehydration while traveling can cause unpleasant issues with your system, but this is one incredibly simple way to combat that.
An apple a day doesn’t just keep the doctor away; they’re also a great way to get filling fiber and nutrients on the go.
Embrace exercise in every form
Most of us don’t have the luxury of sticking to our fitness routines while traveling, so we need to get in exercise wherever and whenever we can.
Ask the concierge if the hotel has any running maps or bicycles you can use. If the hotel doesn’t rent bikes, then there’s a good chance the city you’re staying in might; more and more metropolitan areas are developing bike rental programs.
Look into bodyweight exercises that you can perform even in a small hotel room. You can just use the floor or even utilize a stable chair, desk, or the wall for things like dips, incline push-ups, or wall planks. Limited space doesn’t mean you have to settle for limited results.
Of course don’t forget the simplest exercise: walking. Walk every where you can. It’s a great way to see the area, save money, and get a mental break from a long day.
A fun walk or jog through your destination is a great way to stay fit and see the sights.
Remember the other facets of health
Being healthy isn’t just about cutting calories or getting a chiseled physique, it’s about taking care of your whole self, and that’s especially important when under the pressures of travel.
Because your system is stressed, make sure to take extra care to wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, (most of us are doing it wrong). This is particularly important when doing things where you’re surrounded by hundreds, if not thousands of people, like flying, visiting museums, or attending conferences.
Don’t take your sleep lightly. We know you’re excited and have a lot to see and do, but your body tends to need rest even more when you’re traveling, especially once jetlag is involved. Don’t fight it. When you’re not well rested you’re much more likely to get sick or injured, and no one wants that on a trip.
Eat well, but be flexible. Don’t stress and beat yourself up if you indulge in some local cuisine. Frankly that’s one of the best parts of traveling! And if you’re able to get a meal made with in-season produce or products from local farms, then even better.
If you’re being mindful of your food choices most of the time, then partaking in a few great meals won’t ruin you, but instead they can easily be one of your favorite memories of the trip.
Lastly, be good to yourself. Whether it’s a bit of meditation or yoga before you leave your room, or taking some time each day to read or journal, it’s very important to pay attention to your mental health. You’re not really healthy if your head isn’t in the right place.
Don’t indulge in everything, but travel without good food is travel without meaning.
Next time you hit the road remember these tips to travel well and be well. Enjoy your journey.
For more travel tips and news visit our website or call 614-237-4488 or 1-800-966-6512to speak to one of our travel experts today.
At UNIGLOBE Travel Designers, we have expertise in both business and leisure travel as well as international travel with a live consultant for each phone call. We are your neighborhood travel designers – serving the Columbus community and beyond since 1981!
