So, you’re finally taking a vacation, and you want to make sure you are in peak health mentally and physically! This is a big topic, and could likely be a book. But I wanted to take a quick blog to offer some tips for managing your overall health while traveling. Here are some things that have worked for me in my many trips over the last decade, but specifically last year while I was traveling for 4 months.
1. Listen to your needs.
If you’re not used to checking in with yourself during your normal life, travel will smack you right in the face. All your senses are heightened and your body is in a new location with different sights, sounds, foods, sleep schedule, etc. If you don’t check in with your needs, you’re sure to get sick or just feel generally stressed.
Check in with your needs and then LISTEN to them and then make the adjustments you need to make! Sleep more. Eat more. Eat less spicy food! Etc.
2. Time adjustment
Try your best to adjust to the destination’s time schedule. If that means going to bed a little early than you feel, or eating when you aren’t that hungry, try your best. The faster you can adjust to sleeping and eating regularly, the faster you will acclimate to your destination and enjoy being there.
3. Give yourself grace
Beating yourself up or stressing over the little things is not going to solve any problems. And continued stress will also not help you enjoy your vacation. If the little things are getting you down, make sure you’re eating enough and try a little thought work to move through those negative thoughts. I sometimes just need to forgive myself for whatever I’m feeling and that helps me move past with grace. Remember that you’re on vacation and it’s not always easy but the point is to try to relax and enjoy your moments.
4. Move your body
I’ll be the first to admit, even as a dancer, that when I get grumpy or feel mildly tired, I will not move my body. Even though I know it’s the best medicine for me. Whenever I do get my butt up and move around in a 3 dimensional way, I feel so much better. I don’t just mean walking. I mean just dance around, do some tai chi or qi gong. And if you don’t know what that means, just focus on moving in a space-filling way! Bend your knees. Make giant arm circles. Roll your head around on your neck. Make circles with your hips and rib cage and knees. Put on your favorite song and move what feels good. It will shift your mindset and get you out of a funk.
5. Get some sunlight
I’m not a scientist but I’ve been hearing this is really important. Hopefully you’re not in one of those high or low latitude where sunlight is scarce seasonally but especially if you are, make sure you’re soaking up that sunlight when you can.
Justin, Peru- 5 weeks
6. Drink water
Make sure it’s bottled if you’re in a new country.
7. Check in with your needs
Again. This one gets two because how you take care of yourself is truly dependent on how well you can read what your body is asking for. Figure out your hunger cues. Figure out your sensitivity triggers. Know how much you need to sleep. Feel in your body when you want to say NO to something. You don’t have to do everything. The most important part is to enjoy what you DO show up for. And if you show up for everything feeling meh, then what is the point?
Hopefully this is helpful! What are your biggest helpful tips for taking care of yourself while traveling?
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