If you’re anything like me then traveling is a big part of your life whether it’s for work, vacation, or both.
I’m currently in the midst of one of my busiest travel times of the year with back to back conferences, events and of course a few personal vacays in between.
And let me tell you, my body is feeling it.
You probably don’t normally notice the true toll that traveling takes on your body because if it’s work related, you tend to see it as “just part of the job” and so you continue to push through and if it’s vacation related, well, then it must be all good right?
Traveling is a type of stress we just don’t typically address.
Think about it. How many times have you come home from a trip and:
● Come down with the worst cold or flu ever
● Felt extremely exhausted even if your trip was a vacation
● Had a flare up of muscle or joint aches and pains
● Struggled to get your sleep back on track
● Noticed your weight shot up
● Or experienced a relapse in your autoimmune condition, anxiety, skin breakouts or other health issues
These are all signs of the stress your body experienced while traveling.
Don’t get me wrong, I love traveling and I would never give it up, but over the years I’ve learned to notice how it can take a toll on my body and how I can be proactive so that it doesn’t create a huge health set back for me.
Stress is anything that places a burden on your body resulting in inflammation which leads to any of the health issues you might encounter. Stressors can include the foods you’re eating that aren’t right for your body, getting inadequate sleep, over or under exercising, emotional or physical stress, toxins that you encounter and hidden stressors such as parasites, bacteria or yeast overgrowth in the gut, hormone imbalances, liver congestion and more.
The not so obvious, but typical types of stressors you encounter when traveling are:
Having less options for food and water quality
Not so supportive beds or environments which negatively impact sleep quality
Sitting for prolonged periods of time or getting less movement in general
Dehydration from flying or not being in your normal routine
Crossing time zones and messing with your natural hormone balance
Not having all of your "wellness" tools along with you
Late nights/early morning, disrupting your circadian rhythm
An abundance of toxins circulating the air in airports and hotels
These stressors can add up quickly while traveling. As your stress load increases, it can suppress your immune system making you more susceptible to getting sick, disrupting your natural hormone balance which drains your energy and mood, overloading your liver causing a backup of toxins in your body and destroying your gut resulting in digestive upset.
You may not have complete control over these travel time stressors BUT you can reduce their impact on your body when you take the right steps.
In the game of living a healthy life, the key to your success is NOT living in a bubble and avoiding all “unhealthy” things, but the trick is learning to navigate life differently so your body and health are more supported.
As I already pointed out, there are quite a few types of stressors you are typically encountering while traveling; some might be within your control and some may not be.
Instead of stressing about finding the perfect place, food and toxin free environments while traveling, here are some simple steps that I take, and that you can take too, in order to proactively support your body and prevent any health setbacks...
Prioritize Food & Water
Make eating gluten- and dairy-free your #1 priority to reduce inflammatory food factors
Increase your water intake 1 day before and while traveling to prevent dehydration
Be mindful of your alcohol intake - if tired or jet lagged, opt for a mocktail instead
Sleep Soundly
At night set your room to 68 degrees for optimal sleep temperature
Cover all ambient lights such as alarm clocks, and smoke alarms, and tightly seal curtains shut (Ninja trick! Pack electrical tape to cover smoke alarm lights and place pillows against curtains to seal the cracks)
Get sunlight exposure upon waking up to balance your circadian rhythm and watch the sun set at night.
Reduce Physical Stress
Stretch, stretch and stretch...daily and intermittently on the plane for long flights
Opt for less intense exercise such as walking or yoga
Schedule a massage, acupuncture and/or chiropractic adjustment within 1 day of returning home
Decompress and Revitalize
Pack lavender essential oil to use anytime you need to unwind throughout your trip
Start and/or end your day with a cycle of deep breaths, meditation or journaling
Schedule some time at the spa or book a massage to relax and restore your body
Tone Down Toxins
Pack a travel-size salt lamp to help purify air, reduce allergens and negative ions
Drink purified bottled water ONLY - grab filtered water when you can and look for glass bottled water in restaurants such as Pellegrino
Get in touch with nature - open windows when possible, get outside daily and even put your bare feet in grass or dirt to offset toxin exposure
I love helping my coaching clients learn how to navigate life differently so they can enjoy traveling AND have their ideal health and weight at the same time.
If you’re a busy, health-minded professional who travels a ton and wants to learn how to support your body better while doing it, then schedule a complimentary Wellness Discovery Session here
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Holiday travel will be coming before we know it which adds a whole new level of stress. So be kind to yourself, give yourself some grace and make choices your body will thank you for.
