Tips for Healthy Travel

When it comes to keeping healthy while traveling, nothing beats good preparation. Use these tips to plan ahead, and your trip will be smooth sailing, flying or driving.

Before you leave:

• For the month before you depart, use a calendar to organize all the things you must do before you leave. Plan one thing each day so you don’t begin your trip overwhelmed and exhausted.
• Begin a simple exercise routine three to five days a week. Travel naturally takes a toll on your body. Building up your immune system with exercise will help keep you from getting sick while on vacation.
• Pack your own snacks. Airports and gas stations are notorious for their lack of healthy choices. Bring a few healthy snack bars or mixes along – something light that won’t leave you with an upset stomach in the air or in between rest areas.

During your trip:

• Keep moving. If you’re on a plane, flex your leg muscles every few minutes to keep the blood flowing. If you’re in the car, stop every hour or so to get out, stretch and walk around. A surefire way to keep yourself moving is to drink plenty of water – you’ll have to get up or stop to use the bathroom eventually.
• Dress in layers. When the temperature fluctuates, you’ll easily be able to adjust to stay comfortable.
• Carry your identification and insurance information at all times. You probably won’t need it. But it’s much better to be safe than sorry.

When you return home:

• Nothing weighs more heavily on your mind after vacation than an unpacked suitcase. As soon as you walk in the door, unpack your bags, no matter how tired you are. It’ll be a huge weight off your shoulders when you wake up the next morning.
• If you can, plan one extra day off to spend at home before heading back to work. It’ll give you a chance to rest a bit more and prepare to get back into your daily routine.