Top Tips to Help You Stay Healthy on Vacation
Top Tips to Help You Stay Healthy on Vacation
21/10/2021
Nothing ruins a vacation like an unexpected cold or case of the flu while you’re on the road. Travel breaks you out of your day-to-day routine, which means you’re exposed to more viruses and germs than you are while you’re at home. From food poisoning to a respiratory infection, travel-related illnesses are sometimes unavoidable.
However, there is much you can do to stay as healthy as possible while on-the-go. These tips can help you to prevent illnesses while you travel and keep yourself up on your feet in the unfortunate chance that you do get sick on your vacation.
Come Prepared
You’ve had your eye on cruises from Florida for ages, so it’s important that your body is healthy, energized and illness-free so you can fully enjoy yourself when it’s finally time to set off. When you pack for your trip, make sure to tuck these essentials into your suitcase.
• Self-Care Items
A small bag with self-care products can really come in handy to prevent illness and discomfort while you’re on vacation. In addition to your regular personal care items, you may want to bring along a few other products in case of emergencies, such as a strong SPF lotion, a super hydrating lotion, bath salts or a skin cream to soothe irritation or inflammation.
• Medicines
Whether you’re already on daily medications or not, you should bring a pill case for good measure. Pack medications that could treat many common ailments that you could pick up while you travel, including pain relief medication, vitamins, cold medicine, stomach aids or antibiotic ointments.
• Extras
You can never be too prepared. A small first-aid kit that includes antibacterial wipes, hand sanitizer, bandages, bug spray and other disinfectants can help to keep germs, bugs, viruses and other pathogens away.
Prioritize Sleep
Travel, especially to faraway places, can significantly disrupt your sleep schedule. Good, consistent sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your health, and it’s crucial that you get enough rest before, during and after your vacation. If you know you’ll be traveling to a distant time zone, try to shift your bedtime gradually in the days leading up to the trip. The more sleep you can get, the stronger your immune system will be.
Eat Healthfully
One of the best parts of any vacation is getting to enjoy the local food at your destination. However, too drastic a shift in your diet can make you sick, and both eating too little, and overindulgence can make it hard for your body to stay healthy while you’re away from home. Only consume foods and drinks that you know are safe for your consumption, especially if you have any dietary restrictions or are traveling to a less developed area and try to eat everything in moderation.
Stay Hydrated
While you’re out seeing the sights and exploring your destination, it’s easy to forget to drink enough water. Rather than pay for several overpriced bottles of water on your trip, bring along a reusable water bottle that you can keep filled up to take with you wherever you go. Make it a point to drink plenty of water before you head out for the day and when you return at night, so your body doesn’t get dehydrated from all the walking, weather conditions or lack of fluids.
Destress
Vacations are meant to provide a well-deserved reprieve from your daily life, but they carry their own set of stressors, too. Stress weakens your immune system, which makes getting sick while on vacation a lot more probable. Flying makes many people nervous, packed itineraries can be overwhelming and some find it hard to fully relax when they’re in an unfamiliar space. Adopt a few coping strategies to help you deal with the stress of travel. Some find it helpful to practice deep breathing, while others download meditation podcasts to listen to on long plane or car rides. Pace yourself on your vacation and make sure that whatever you do on your trip is enjoyable, fun and stress-free.