8 Tips To Stay Healthy While Travelling

8 Tips To Stay Healthy While Travelling

Travelling can be therapeutic, but as anyone who’s caught the wanderlust bug on a quest for new experiences will tell you, it’s not always glamorous. From bumps and contusions to anxieties, there are many issues to contend with as a traveller, particularly while venturing off-the-beaten-path on your grand adventures.

I have to admit that I have often felt daunted and overcome by the thought of leaving life’s comforts at home to face the not-particularly-alluring aspects of my adventures. But through trial and error, I’ve compiled these 8 tips to stay healthy while travelling to ensure that your body, mind and spirit are functioning optimally to keep your wellness on track when you’re on the road.

 

8 Tips To Stay Healthy While Travelling

8 Tips To Stay Healthy While Travelling

 

  1. Give Yourself a Well-earned Treat

Part of what makes travel so incredible is its ability to help us experience other cultures first-hand. It breaks misconceptions and creates a sense of belonging to a global world. I have found such experiences life-transforming and I have thus developed a healthier view of the world.

I personally take travelling as the moment to enrich my soul, discover myself and promote self-love. Seriously, what is the purpose of going on an adventure if you are not going to take advantage of this moment to live your life to the fullest! And yes, love yourself a little by rewarding your psyche with a well-earned treat {gourmet meal or a full-body massage} after a hard day’s adventuring.

  1. Take a Digital Detox

If like me, you have travelled to the less developed parts of the world, you may have realised that the happiest people are those with a lot fewer possessions than us lucky travellers. Stepping away from your cell phone/iPad/laptop or any other gadgets you use that crowd our lives is the best route, in my opinion, to recharge your mind and soul.

No matter where you are, spend time with Mother Nature and enjoy the goodness that she has to offer. Re-energise the mental, physical and spiritual you. Go for walks, biking or jogs at the park ~ refresh your skin, lungs, heart, and emotions with as much fresh air as possible. Take advantage of the sandy beaches, enjoy the early morning sun or a gorgeous sunset… Experience the beauty of the natural world no matter where you are visiting.

  1. Take Advantage of Travel Yoga

When it comes to attaining perfect harmony of your mind, body, and soul, there’s perhaps nothing that works quite as well as yoga. Yoga not only enhances blood and oxygen circulation in your body, but it also creates bonding moments for travellers when undertaken as a group activity.

I personally keep healthy while travelling, and ease anxiety through the practice of yoga. I find that physical and emotional burnout is replaced by a calmer, more focused attitude. I also find it particularly helpful as it enhances my sleep quality and leaves me more restful. And as all of you may already know, a positive mindset is a sure antecedent for enjoyment during your journey.

  1. Maintain Some Form of Routine

In as much as travelling introduces freedom to be spontaneous and do things differently, this impulsiveness can hit back at you. I personally like to plan ahead, factoring in the unexpected that can arise at any given point in my travels. This helps me maintain a sense of routine throughout my journey.

Since your body is conditioned to doing things in a certain way and at a particular time, if you mess up your sleeping or eating pattern, for example, it will affect your physical, mental, and emotional well-being, and can make you unavailable for the fun and adventure that you were looking forward to.

  1. Pace yourself

Whether you are travelling for business or on a one-week family holiday, take some time out of your busy schedule to have ‘me’ moments. Instead of filling every minute with activities, plan your day in such a way that you leave some room for spontaneous adventure. There’s something about the open road that triggers feel-good emotions that lends itself to soul edifying and self-discovery. I embrace the myriad opportunities for self-love that present themselves in the course of my travels because part of keeping your spirit healthy is learning to love yourself.

  1. Embrace Healthy Eating While Travelling

We are what we eat ~ you agree? While it may not always be possible to get proper nutrition, try as much as possible to choose healthier options over junk food. This can take some discipline, but know this ~ junk food has a tendency to slow digestion and leaves your body feeling lethargic. Combine this with climate change and fatigue that comes with long travel and you have yourself a recipe for disaster.

Try to ensure that eating well for proper body functioning is your rule, rather than the exception.

  1. Take Advantage of Opportunities That Combine Exercise and Exploration

One of the most rewarding and, of course, my favourite way to stay healthy when travelling is combining workouts with sightseeing. I find this combo not only fun but also helpful in achieving my health goals. Realising that a large number of cities around the world offer dynamic expeditions, I choose activities that not only exposes me to scenic sites but also gives me an opportunity to get active.

You can adopt a ‘learn, have fun and keep fit’ approach to your activities; anything from mountaineering, or biking, and walking tours would fit in this cluster.

  1. Guard Your Essentials

It is important to appreciate that as a traveller you will encounter challenges on your journey. While I can be flexible and do away with everything else, I have three things that I consider must-haves: restful sleep, vegetables in my meal plans, and some form of exercise every few days. Prepare your list of bare minimums that you know can easily affect the quality of your trip, and make every effort to ensure that these are met.

 

8 Tips To Stay Healthy While Travelling

 

Keeping healthy while travelling should be a top priority for you. These 8 tips to stay healthy while travelling will ensure that you stay productive and revitalised on your travels. 

 

Do let me know if you enjoyed this post. And, of course, I am always open to suggestions and queries.

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72 Comments

  • I love travelling too, and it’s super hard for me to find balance while doing so. I’m glad I have an example to look to. Thank you and keep doing what you do!

  • What a post ~ so informative and amazing! I love each point, and I believe we should strive to live and enjoy new places while staying true to our health needs.

    • Thank you, Deepa. I do my best to exercise and eat well. It’s definitely a balancing act but one that is so worth it.

  • Awesome tips! I will be travelling to Cambodia soon and will keep your recommendation in my mind. Thank you for sharing!

  • Thanks so much for posting this! I will be visiting my in-laws for the holidays, so these are genuinely necessary tips!

  • The AirBnb we stayed at this summer actually had an immersion blender, so I picked a few berries and some spinach so that I could make a smoothie with my individual protein powder pack, in the mornings, which was pretty awesome!

  • Sounds like an incredible arrangement to remain in good health… Since it is hard, when travelling, to escape the “I’m on holiday” mode. 🙂

  • Over the years I have figured out how to appropriately prep for my travels to make sure that I have some gluten-free and healthy food with me! Thank you for sharing. xx

  • Great blog, Tanya! Keeping your immune system under tight restraints is one of the best approaches to make for a worry-free trip. xx

  • Here’s a tip: When you’re exploring a new city, make a point to look out for drug stores and nearby health services, you never know when you may require them. 🙂

  • Exhaustion and travel burn out are very real and can be exceptionally unpleasant. If you don’t give your body a chance to rest and make up for lost sleep ~ it will fail you.

  • I ensure that I give myself a “duvet day” if I’ve been travelling a lot. I do like getting out there and seeing all those sights during the day, and the best thing for that is a decent night’s rest. 🙂

    • Yup! Regardless of whether you’re on the adventure of your life, it’s important to remember to take some time out of the day for yourself, Arpita.

  • Put together so beautifully! Aiming to keep some consistency with your typical eating patterns while travelling is vital.

    On a side note, you’ve a magic touch when it comes to curating travel and wellness content! Your vision & creativity go hand in hand. ❤️

    • It’s not a great holiday without delicious treats, Anjum ~ yet where possible, I try to reduce the amount of low quality nourishment I consume ~ like biscuits, pastries and junk food.

      Thank you so much!

  • Fab post! With all the adventuring, sun baking, and merry making – it’s anything but difficult to remember to drink enough water! 😀

    • Hydration is vital to helping our body function optimally. Not to mention drinking water helps us differentiate between hunger and thirst, Geeta. 🙂

  • Regardless of how long you’re on the road, it’s always helpful to have a few tricks up your sleeve ~ and these gems, Tanya, are all I need! Thanks for sharing. xx

  • This is a really nice blog on how to combine pleasure with wellness when you’re on the road, because isn’t living your best life the point of a vacation in the first place? 🙂

  • Awesome post! What an inspiration you are, Tanya! ❤️

    Well, portion size definitely plays a major part – it’s also one of the easiest things to monitor to make sure you’re eating the optimum amount of food.

  • That’s what it’s all about! The day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit, be patient!

    On that note, you have so much passion inside of you to help others and that is all you need, Tanya… The rest is easy. ❤️

  • A brilliant and helpful set of rules to follow…

    Now – Take it slow. Have patience. Realize you’re going to have “bad” days. When you do, just get back on track and keep going.

  • I love this! ❤️ Moderation for the win. Always.

    Additionally, don’t get caught up debating if an individual food is ‘good’ or ‘bad’. Instead, ask yourself: “How does (insert food) fit within the context of my diet as a whole?”

  • Wow! This puts it into perspective. Don’t eliminate what’s delicious. Just eat less… By the way, you are incredible and beautiful, Tanya! ❤️

  • Wow!! This is so impressive that it literally made my stomach hurt … I think I may finally have made peace with my body, and for me, that’s a huge achievement. Enjoy the week, beauty!

  • Excellent post; our mindset around food is everything! Having balance and staying prepared is the key to enjoying yourself and still keeping up with good habits.

  • Yes, it’s easy to eat clean and healthy, even when travelling.

    Setting aside a few minutes to meal prep when packing, ensures you’re still able to nourish your body even on the go and that will pay off in the end. For a flight, I like to make a salad, peel (or cut) fruit, and pack a reusable water bottle to fill up. Saves money and allows you to continue to eat well.

  • Fantastic post! ✨✨✨ One of the most incredible parts of travelling is tasting and trying new foods that you wouldn’t be able to get at home! This also means having energy, no bloating, and staying hydrated. In order to do this, I plan on the things I want. Then I spread them out throughout the trip. This helps my body and my taste buds feel good!

  • Thank you for posting this! The key to making a healthy habit stick is to find something that you can do and can enjoy doing for the long term.

    ❤️ It makes me happy to see you out in the world doing your thing.

  • Yes – a diet should be flexible and nimble, and one that you can adapt depending on the occasion or when you’re travelling to. Travel happy + travel healthy.

  • Travel has been the cup of tea of millions of people who love to live a nomadic life and explore new places.
    My advice: Don’t overthink it. Test things out. Find out what works for you. Then make it fit your calories for the day. And execute … consistently. That’s how you win.

  • Love this! Nutrition is about health, longevity & nourishment. Not restricting and self-control. ✨ I choose whole foods when possible. I know my body will be a lot happier if I’m fuelling it with mostly clean energy while travelling.

  • Ooh – what a fab post! Traveling + practising healthy habits don’t seem like they can go hand in hand. But I was reminded on our trip last week that you can find a healthy balance even when on vacation.

    A balance that allows you to feel amazing and still enjoy some treats too.

  • Okay, you make this all sound so fun! It’s definitely the habits, routine, and mindset that we follow each day that will move us into a more confident version of ourselves. 🙂

  • All great tips! ❤️

    I feel it’s important to find a balance. The majority of the time I’m choosing things that will make me feel good and that aren’t too far off of what I normally eat. The best way to handle choices is to not focus on the result and instead focus on the journey.

  • Love these tips! I need to remember to stick to the basics ones! And pay attention to self-talk to keep things in perspective. Thanks for sharing, Tanya.

  • This is perfect! I’m going on a trip in two weeks and needed these tips!

    On another note: Be optimistic about your future, and realistic about your present. Be grateful for what you have, but strive for what you want. Hope you all are doing well and keeping safe. ❤️

  • Agreed.

    You have to set some intentions. Not the woo-woo kind [although I like those, too] but some hard rules you’re going to stick with. Making these simple, clear, and feasible will increase the likelihood that you stick with them – this creates more confidence in yourself + following through will make you physically feel better, too!

  • I love everything about this post!! ❤️ That’s how you build a healthy relationship with food and people. That’s how you make this healthy lifestyle journey a tad more enjoyable. That’s how you succeed in the long term… Now make it a non-negotiable. And watch your life change. ⠀

  • This is really helpful. Travelling makes it so hard to stay on track. I have to travel for work constantly and I am so thankful for your amazing wellness posts. Love hearing about your journey and all of the amazing things you do to brighten + better our world. Bravo!

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