How to Travel Healthy



It’s a big world, and it would be a shame to constrict yourself to one place for an entire lifetime. There are different cultures to explore, new people to meet, and amazing places to visit. Not only that, but increasingly our work and the accessibility and affordability of travel often demands that we be in multiple places any given week.

But, there’s a problem: how do we stay healthy while traveling? Many people struggle with balancing the two, but there are different strategies we can use to stay healthy while traveling.

 

1.Time to eat

One of the challenges of travelling is making good choices with what we eat. Whether it’s matter of convenience as we’re on the move, or just the nature of not being able to prepare meals, we naturally end up eating out, or even room service in.

There are plenty of good choices we can still make, but it’s important to train your brain to make them. Travelling, even for work, can cause a mental framework that often allows us to make decisions slightly outside what we would make in our day to day environment. Almost a permission giving mindset that makes poorer nutritional choices because “I’m travelling”, it’s ok. But naturally if you travel a lot, this can become problematic very quickly. 

Here are a few things you might consider:

  • Whatever your meal is – take your time with it. Chew slowly, savor every bite, and I make sure to focus on the food and the company. 
  • Drink water before, during, and after the meal. This helps feel satiated earlier on and reduces the chances of overeating.
  • Even on vacation, still try to make better choices. For example, if you’re visiting a restaurant in a new town, read the menu thoroughly and try to pick one of the healthier options. Skip things like salad dressings, as they are quite high in calories, and if getting a dessert, always order the smallest one possible. Fruit salad is always a good option.
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2.Move as much as you can

You may be stuck on a plane for long periods, in a car or train, whatever the form of transport, be mindful of regular movement whilst travelling to keep your blood flow up, and your daily steps at a healthy balance where you can.Do some sit-ups and push-ups on the floor of your hotel room or take a walk or jog at a local park, or use the hotel pool or gym if they have one available to you.

 

Some considerations.

Jet lag can be a challenge. When you cross two or more time zones in a short period, you’ll likely feel jet lagged. Some good strategies to fight it is to give yourself a few days to adjust, move more, stay hydrated, and consider a sleep supplement such as melatonin.

Another consideration has to do with DVT (deep vein thrombosis) and, as it turns out, this can be a serious issue for some long-distance travelers. 

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, people at a higher risk of DVT are older folks, obese individuals, people who’ve had recent surgery, pregnant women, people with limited mobility (for example, having a cast), and others.

It’s important to keep these factors in mind if you want to do some long-distance traveling. Also, consult with a doctor and learn what you can do to prevent blood clots from developing. 

The key is to not switch off your brain when travelling and keep giving yourself permission to make poor health choices. If that sounds like something you do, try and reframe your thinking and set positive health goals for your travels. Give yourself a daily steps target, make some goals around food choices, prepare yourself to succeed. 

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