Are you worried about staying healthy as you travel the world? This can cause anxiety in a lot of travelers, especially those who are regular gym goers and like to have a little more control over what they’re eating. Not to worry – you can stay healthy as you make your way around the world, and this guide is going to tell you how.
Read on if you want to make sure you stay as healthy as possible as you make your way around the world:
Prioritize Your Sleep
I certainly have no problem prioritizing my sleep, whether I’m on the road or at home. I love to sleep. Joking aside, getting a proper sleep is incredibly important when it comes to staying healthy while you travel. The trouble is that sleep isn’t always going to be on your mind while you’re exploring new places, meeting new people at hostel bars, and doing new things.
Do your best to make sure you’re getting the right amount of sleep as often as possible. Getting the recommended 7-8 hours per night will literally change the way your body functions and make you feel so much better. You’ll be able to walk all day, hike up those mountains to take in those incredible views, and you won’t feel run down or risk getting sick.
Pace Yourself
This is something I had to learn the hard way when I was traveling a few years ago. I spent a month in Vietnam moving as quickly as possible, packing each day with tons of activities and literally never slowing down. It all caught up with me when I crossed the border into Cambodia. I was exhausted, burnt out, I needed to stop for a few days.
I know it can be tempting to pack as much as you possibly can into your trip, but for the sake of your sanity and your health, make sure you don’t stress yourself out on your travels. Don’t try to see a whole city in one day! Be realistic and allow freedom in your schedule so you don’t burn out.
Avoid Too Much Drinking
Again, easier said than done. When you’re six tequila shots deep with your brand new best friends you’re definitely not worried about how hungover you’re going to be in the morning, but you should be if you want to get the most out of your trip.
It can be tough to avoid drinking altogether as you travel, especially if you’re traveling with others or meeting people as you travel. Having the occasional drink is fine, but going overboard isn’t just bad for tomorrow’s sightseeing, it seriously takes its toll on your body. It’ll affect you mentally and physically, not to mention take a huge chunk out of your budget (speaking from experience!). Be smart when it comes to drinking.
Choose The Right Accommodation
Make sure you do your research on accommodation before you select where you’re going to stay. Some places, like TownePlace Suites Denver South, have fitness suites and pools that you can use to help you get more exercise in and stay as healthy as possible while traveling. Your accommodation will make a huge difference to how healthy you are able to stay while traveling. It also seriously helps with getting a good night’s sleep.
Do Some Yoga/Stretching In The Morning
I started doing this last year when I was traveling around Costa Rica. I exercise every morning when I’m at home, it shouldn’t be any different when I travel. It’s such a great way to start the day, especially if you’ve been doing a lot of adventure activities like hiking, biking, and swimming. You can find tons of great stretches and yoga videos on Youtube which you can easily stream on your phone while you’re traveling.
Find Exciting New Ways To Exercise
There are always going to be new ways you can exercise if you use your imagination, especially while you’re traveling. You could run along the beach, find parks to exercise in (most cities have outdoor machines in public parks these days), use resistance bands which are super light and easy to travel with – the list goes on. Just keep active, because you’ll no doubt be indulging in all of the new foods!
Choose Your Food Carefully
Indulging is part of being on vacation, right? Just be sure to balance all of those spring rolls, tacos, or fresh bowls of pasta with some fruit and vegetables to keep your immune system happy. Enjoy fresh orange juice in the morning or buy some groceries so that you can make a healthy lunch every day.
Stay Hydrated
One of the worst things you can do while you travel is let your hydration slip, especially if you’re being really active or traveling in a hot place. Stay hydrated by taking water with you everywhere you go – but make sure it’s bottled if you can’t drink the water in the place you’re visiting. Drink more than you need!