Travel Tips To Keep Your Wellness

Introduction

Anytime you travel, wellness can be a challenge. Maintaining your good health takes awareness and attentive self care to overcome the stressors of traveling away from home. You will be exposed to climate conditions that are different from what you are used to, and other people's germs. On top of that, disruption from your normal sleep schedule, food and exercise routines can make you feel less than well. Several simple methods of dealing with these changes will help you maintain travel wellness during the trip and when you return home.

Step 1

Protect your sleeping habits so that you don't get exhausted and become more susceptible to illnesses while you are away from home. Travel wellness starts before you even leave for a trip. Instead of saving all your packing for the night before you leave, prepare your suitcase a day or more in advance so that you can get a good night's sleep before your trip starts. While you are traveling, maintain your usual sleep schedule, if at all possible. Excitement, unfamiliar beds and unusual noises may make it difficult to fully rest. Counterbalance that problem by allowing yourself an hour to catch a quick nap during the day. Try to avoid late night meals and alcoholic beverages, which can disrupt your sleep pattern even more than usual.

Step 2

Pack any medications you require in a pill box that has segments for each day. This will serve as a reminder to take your pills, even when you are in different surroundings. Put the medications in your suitcase to avoid issues at the security gate when you are checking in for a flight. Supplement your travel wellness plan with vitamins. If you routinely take a daily multivitamin, make sure you take those along with you, along with some additional Vitamin C to keep your immune system healthy. Check with your travel agent or call the airline in advance for the best way to pack insulin or other liquid medications you may require.

Step 3

Keep up your exercise habit wherever you go, even if you have to make changes from your normal routine. Many hotels have a fitness center where you can work out on exercise equipment. Treadmills, cycling machines and the ellipticals are typical at the hotel centers and can provide an excellent workout even though you can't make it to your own gym. Swimming pools are also common amenities at many hotels and can provide not only exercise, but also a quiet time to relax your mind while you're on the road. Enhance your travel wellness commitment by taking a walk or run outdoors if your trip takes you to particularly scenic areas.

Step 4

Limit your meals to about the same volume and frequency of what you eat regularly. When you travel, eating more snacks and large, leisurely meals can be a temptation. When you focus on your travel wellness, your choices will include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, and reasonable portions. Make sure you sample regional cuisines -- part of the joy of traveling -- but keep the size of the meal small if you suspect some of the unfamiliar ingredients may disagree with your digestive system. Talk with a travel specialist about food recommendations if you are traveling out of the country to areas where sanitation and hygiene are lower priorities than at home. Travel wellness while abroad may require that you forego some of the delicacies that the locals may offer.

Tips

Pack a small, travel-size bottle of hand sanitizer in your purse or carry-on bag so that you can clean your hands frequently to maintain travel wellness. Put another container of sanitizer in your suitcase so that you don't run out part way through your trip. 

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