Road warriors understand that it can be challenging to stay healthy when out on the road. The temptations of eating out and not having the convenience of your regular workout routine can wreak havoc on even the best-laid plans. Here are a few things that you can do to ensure that you stay healthy while traveling.
Watch Your Diet: The number one thing that you can do to stay healthy while traveling is to watch what you eat. It is natural to want to indulge in local food and drink offerings when discovering new places. While this is fine in moderation, it is important to balance your indulgence with nutritious foods. If applicable, ask if your weekly delivered weight loss meal plans can be redirected to your destination. This will ensure that you do not get off track with all of your diet and nutrition goals while away from home. Otherwise, keep track of calories and avoid going overboard.
Get Enough Sleep: You cannot expect to stay healthy while traveling if you are not intentional about getting enough quality sleep each night. You should aim for at least seven or eight hours of sleep for optimal health. Sleep deprivation will lower the functioning of your immune system, making you more susceptible to getting sick.
Practice Good Hygiene: Now more than ever, it is important to practice good hygiene. Be sure to wash your hands, body, and mouth frequently. Taking special care to clean before and after eating and after using the restroom is super important. Scrubbing vigorously with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds will provide the best protection. If you know that there may be times that you do not have access to soap and water, be sure to bring along plenty of hand sanitizer.
Stay Hydrated: It is not uncommon to become dehydrated when traveling. Getting out of your daily routine often makes people negligent in remembering to drink enough water. Be sure to drink water before you become thirsty. Waiting until you become excessively thirsty may be too late. Being intentional about staying hydrated is especially important when traveling on airplanes.
Keep Moving: Travel is not an excuse to abandon your regular exercise routine. You can also work physical activity into your trip itinerary. Choosing to walk instead of drive short distances and scheduling active activities will make working out seem fun and part of the trip. If your hotel does not have a gym, there are exercises that you can do in your room. For example, try using the edge of the bed for tricep dips. It is also easy to do sit-ups and push-ups nearly anywhere, leaving you no excuse for not keeping with your regular exercise routine.
Avoid Excessive Alcohol: Nothing will ruin your trip faster than a nasty hangover. While it is understandable to want to cut loose on your trip, it is important to drink responsibly. Drinking too much alcohol will lead to hydration and leave you feeling ill-equipped to handle the rigors of travel. Watching what you drink and being diligent about drinking plenty of water between alcoholic beverages will help you to wake up the next morning feeling great and ready to go.
Following these six tips will boost the chances that you return home healthy and rejuvenated.