Look, we get how oxymoronic and unenticing that title sounds, but hear us out. Your body is quite literally the most important thing you have. So just imagine its surprise when its crossing time zones, wedged into a tuna can of a plane and the thanks it gets for putting up with all this is a bag of complementary peanuts. Travelling is inherently going to be a disruption to your routine and your body’s rhythms. Despite this, we believe that it is entirely possible to keep yourself healthy while you’re out there seeing the world. We’re not saying you need to do paleo washed down with a morning triathlon in the Barcelona heat, but there are definitely feasible measures you can take to keep yourself healthy. Here are 8 of them.
1. Sleep properly – During your travels, you’ll be riding on planes, trains and buses, crossing time zones and hauling your luggage from city to city. This can be both physically and mentally taxing, so you need to give your body time to recover. A proper night’s sleep makes all the difference.
2. Eat regularly – Between busy schedules and empty wallets, it’ll be heard to maintain a healthy eating schedule. But don’t make it habit. You’ll be constantly on the move across water, land and air. You need to supply your body with nutrition to sustain this activity. Remember, breakfast is the most important meal of the day!
3. Stay hydrated – We can’t stress this one enough. With all the activities you’ll be engaging in, and the different climates that your body will have to adapt to, it’s crucial that you have enough fluids in your body to sustain it. Keep a water bottle handy at all times, and your body will thank you for it.
4. Keep it fruity – Many of the places you’ll go will have their own homegrown fruits and vegetables. Take advantage of the local produce; don’t be afraid to try new things and expand your palette. Who knows, you might just find your new favourite cooking ingredient, while keeping healthy at the same time.
5. Make your own meals – You might not want to do this everyday, but if you’re needing a quick breakfast or a light lunch, do it yourself! It’s important to know exactly what you’re eating. At the same time, you can use local ingredients to give your meal that foreign twist. With the local produce you just got from the market, you’ll have everything you need for an afternoon picnic.
6. Slip, slop, slap – It’s easy to take the sun for granted. But don’t forget that it can harm too. When you’re travelling to those sunny places, you don’t want your perfect day ruined by watching your skin fall off in the shower. That’s why it’s always good practice to have some sunscreen by your side.
7. Take it easy – You’ll be tempted to jump from city to city, slowing down only for the occasional photoshoot. Like a sprint. But remember: it’s all about the journey, not the destination (I… think?). Butchered idioms aside, the point is it might be more fulfilling to pace yourself and properly take in all the sights and sounds before scampering off to your next destination.
8. Walk – We get how tempting it is to bring our Uber habits wherever we go. The convenience of private travel wherever, whenever, is undeniable. But doesn’t this defeat the point of travel? Take the opportunity to use those legs, get amongst the people, the streets and the smells. Not only do you get a more intimate perspective of the city, but you keep your fitness up as well. If you’re looking for some speed, many cities offer bike rentals as well. At the end of the day, we understand that travel is about treating yourself. That doesn’t mean you can’t do it and treat your body well. With these
9 tips, hopefully the idea of staying healthy while travelling isn’t as improbable as it sounds?
