Travel can take a toll on your body. Swept up in the rush of adventure, it’s easy to forget to take care of your health. The result? You might return from your trip exhausted instead of renewed or, worse yet, lose valuable travel days to sudden sickness. Make sure you’re always ready for the next adventure with these healthy habits.
Nutritious Noshing
We tend to get a little decadent when we travel. Adventurous eating, restaurant meals, and a little extra alcohol are all part of the experience of immersing yourself in a new culture. Balance it all out by making sure to work in some healthy treats (and, no, the fruit garnish on that Mai Tai from your Honolulu hoteldoesn’t count.) A nourishing breakfast checks this off the list before the day’s adventures even begin. Start the day with a smoothie, a fruit salad or a vegetable-packed omelet for good fuel to power you all day long.
Engaging Exercise
We all know exercise is important. Make a travel workout much more appealing by re-imagining it as part of the experience. Take a run up and down the hills of San Francisco or along the canals of Amsterdam, making memories while you get your heart rate up. Better yet, work a little exercise into your itinerary. Adventure sport-oriented hotels like the Shore Hotel in Santa Monica offer opportunities to break a sweat you’ll never forget (boogie boarding, anyone?). Finally, don’t underestimate the power of a good pair of walking shoes. Strolling through a city lets you soak up its unique character. The good exercise is just a bonus.
Remembering REM
Making sure you get enough sleep is key to maintaining a healthy immune system. When traveling, it can be tempting to go until you crash. Keep yourself standing by planning in a little balance. Visiting Berlin and looking to partake in the city’s famous party scene? Scope out a comfy Berlin hotel where you might want to spend a lazy morning or two sleeping in and lingering over room service breakfast. Later, when you plot out your sightseeing, plan on nothing but lounging around the morning after a late night out. You’ll dance until sunrise as only Berliners know how, while still making sure you get plenty of rest the morning after. Sweet dreams!
The world won’t end if you return home a few pounds heavier or a couple hours short of sleep. Keeping healthy is about getting more out of travel, not less. Eat, drink and be merry – with a salad somewhere in between. Your body will thank you.