Wellness on the Road | Staying Healthy While Traveling
Wellness on the Road
Optimal Healthiness for Traveling
The New Year gives us pause about our health and makes us think about what we would like to do better.
When traveling on the road one must make special effort to remain in good health. There are simple things that you can do to keep your adventures on the up and up and not stuck in bed missing all the fun.
Prior to departure, you can prepare your body for travel. Get plenty of sleep beforehand and pre-hydrate as much as possible. It can be wise to build up your probiotics before you leave, as that usually can keep your gut in top condition so bacteria doesn’t overcome you. Acidophilus is one example of a probiotic that is frequently used amongst travelers around the world.
Lake Granby | Granby, Colorado
Much of it comes down to the basics — staying hydrated, eating right and getting enough sleep.
DRINK
Always travel with a refillable water bottle and utilize rest areas and gas stations. Bring drink mixes and hydration tablets with electrolytes. Make infused water to change it up (lemon + cayenne, citrus + ginger + turmeric, strawberry + basil + mint). Tea is a flavorful alternative to plain water plus fuels you with antioxidents and there are hundreds of herbs that can be good for any number of ailments or preventatives. Ginger and peppermint tea are great while on the road since they both can reduce feelings of nausea. Chamomile + passionflower are good for relaxing and getting you to sleep at night. Tulsi Ashwagandha is a double adaptogen tea that supports the body's response to stress and its ability to naturally cope with occasional anxiety and fatigue.
EAT
Find fresh local fruits and vegetables to cook with. Research farmers markets or farms you can pick your own along your route. Shopping in a different region of the country can bring some interesting finds for your campfire cooking. Plan in advance for meals so you don’t find yourself getting take out too frequently. Traveling in winter can bring the challenge of less daylight hours to the table so make sure food is prepped early or you have have enough light at your campsite.
If you take supplements, bring them along and don’t forget to take them. Most vitamins and minerals people need should be found in a well-balanced diet but eating while traveling isn’t always balanced well. Turmeric, ginger and garlic are all immune system boosters and anti-inflammatory aids so they are great to work into your cooking on the road. Golden Milk is another alternative to getting all the immune system and anti-inflammatory boosters in a beverage. Its a powdered turmeric based drink is brewed with warm coconut milk, making it easy to take on the road and a nice treat on chilly evenings around the campfire.
SLEEP
Make sleep a priority. Travel can be harsh on the body so one must get a little extra while on the road. The more rested you are, the more you will be able to see and do on your adventure. Sleep and mood are closely connected so more sleep will lower your chances of irritability and stress. Keeping calm and happy on your travels is the priority!
Its very important to take breaks from driving while on the road. Every 2-3 hours its wise to pull over for a little stretch, a hike or some sightseeing. Trigger point massage balls (or a tennis ball) can be used to relieve pressure points from driving. Those of all ages should be aware of DVT, and that a few simple and ankle stretches can prevent something serious from occurring. It is amazing the difference of simple stretching along the route can do for you when you get to your destination. You don’t want to arrive exhausted so enjoy the journey.
Traveling with doggos automatically helps you break up the road trip. You don’t want to bore them plus the additional exercise will keep them calm in the vehicle until the next rest stop. Make sure they are keeping hydrated along the way and have treats available. When going over mountain passes, treats are great for pups to help ease the pressure change in their ears with the higher elevation.
When outdoors protect your skin. Bring sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses for any adventure. Don’t forget about applying sunscreen for driving as you can get quite burnt if not protected. Remember to check for ticks following outdoors time—some places in the US are worse than others so know where the risk is higher. Geranium rose essential oil can be placed on all exposed areas of skin reapplying every two hours for protection. Wash your hands often and bring hand sanitizer along.
Keep the van space clean. Have a broom and an all-purpose cleaner to do light cleaning along the way. Take the time to make your bed and reorganize the space so you don’t feel overwhelmed; it can effect your travels. And bring a first aid kit, just in case, as well as one for your dog if you have a furry companion along for the ride.
Remember to take time to slow down. Pause and take a break from the non-stop moving. Relax and enjoy this down time with reading or journaling. Do a few yoga poses or do some breathing exercises.
Stop. Take a deep breath, and enjoy the incredible sights and sounds around you right now.
Travel healthy, and travel safely.
“A person susceptible to wanderlust is not so much addicted to movement as committed to transformation.”
— Pico Iyer
Venice Beach, Florida