Staying Healthy While Traveling
Don’t get me wrong—I love to travel. I love to explore new surroundings, meet new people, and find inspiration through new experiences. However, there is one thing I don’t love about travel: it can throw me out of my wellness routine.
For those that know me well, I am pretty religious about my wellness routine. Every day, I wake up early, move my body, eat nutrient-packed meals, stay hydrated with water and moisturizers. I also try to take an hour in the morning for my mental health, either through journaling, reading a lesson, or meditation.
In the past, I’ve gotten home from my travels feeling lethargic, stuffed with food, and just overall misaligned. Much of what seemed like “pluses” during my travel, such as rich foods, poolside service, and fancy beverages, ultimately led to a big “minus” when I got home. I’m not sure about you, but I feel there is a compound impact when I abandon my wellness rhythm.
Now, I implement simple Pluses and Minuses to my travels to ensure I stay aligned.
Packing Essentials
My Journal. I brought my journal during my travel for the first time when Michael and I went on our honeymoon ( we stayed at the Farmhouse Inn in Sonoma, California). I knew this was going to be a slow-paced setting, and I wanted to take time to reflect and write about the entire experience. Now, I always bring my journal. It allows me to dive deeper into my travel experience, and it is wonderful to look back at the entries years down the road. Even if you simply journal during the plane ride—rereading those entries brings me right back to the moment.
My Sneakers. If there is a gym at our hotel, that's ideal. Often times, there is no gym in sight, but I bring my sneakers regardless because I know we will be doing a lot of walking (as I mention below). My favorite sneakers are the Ultraboost from Adidas.
Health Snacks. If I don’t bring healthy snacks, I know I’ll be tempted to hit one of the crappy convenient stores in the airport. Some of my go-to snacks are Raw Rev bars, almond butter packets (Justin’s and RX are great brands), nuts, or an apple for fiber,
Hydrating Cosmetics. My hair and skincare routine is very important to me, so I ensure I have all my at-home cosmetics in travel sizes. Traveling is also very dehydrating (the flight alone is very drying, but also, travelers tend to drink less water), so arguably, my cosmetics are more important now than at home! Here are a few cosmetics I bring to add moisture (beyond my typical facial moisturizer):
Evian Spray: I always have one of these in my purse—great mist to stay hydrated on the flight. Always works as a beautiful toner and makeup setter.
Lip Treatment: Loving the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask right now, but honestly, Aquaphor is a great go-to.
RMS Beauty: Most RMS products are made with coconut oil, which is truly IDEAL for travel dryness. Not to mention their makeup is beautifully packaged in glass pots that store easily into my favorite cosmetic bags.
Hand cream: Before bed, I lather my hands with a good hand cream (hands are a good teller of someone’s age). My all-time fav is Aveda’s Hand Relief Night Renewal Serum.
SPF: I use Aveda’s Daily Light Guard on my face, but Coola and Sun Bum are also great options for cleaner sources of SPF.
Hat: Whether it’s a baseball cap or a sunhat, I always bring a hat to protect my face from sunrays.
Other great (but my less essential) things to include in travel: a pair of sunnies, a great book, and compression socks.
Travel Routine
Water. Once I get through security, I buy the biggest water bottle I can find. This hopefully lasts during the flight(s). Then, when I get to the hotel, I make sure to find where to find my water source. Usually hotel rooms are limited with water, so I snag a water bottle whenever I find one available. I know this isn’t the most eco-friendly way to travel, but speaking personally, I’d rather recycle the water bottles than pack my massive Hydroflask (and risk losing it).
Intermittent Fasting. We LOVE to indulge in food when we travel—but it can get carried away pretty quickly! For this reason, we opt for a late breakfast (around 10am-11am), skip lunch (i.e., a Minus), then aim to have an early dinner (around 5pm). This 6-7 hour window is a great way to digest all the richness in the morning before we dine again. Assuming we’re done with dinner and drinks by 7pm, we have another 16 hours until we eat again (an optimal intermittent fast).
Walk, walk, and walk some more. We Minus the Uber when we travel, and we Add walking (or biking). Putting these miles on our feet is a great way to explore the city, but also, get in great exercise that we are missing from our normal gym routine. We wake up early, put on our sneakers, and walk to a coffee shop. From there, the day starts with more exploration (and more walking). My suggestion is to Minus the Uber/taxis, and Add walking to take in the city (and get the blood flowing).
Alcohol. Although I have a passion for health and wellbeing, I’m not a purist. I love a great glass of wine or even a unique, high-quality cocktail. However, at maximum, I’ll enjoy two beverages—never anything more. Be mindful with alcohol and how it effects you’re wellbeing.
In two days, we head to Naples, FL for some sunshine! We’re definitely due after fighting through a Wisconsin winter. I absolutely intend to put these healthy hacks to the test so that, when I come back home, I feel aligned, healthy, and happy.