My Top 5 Tips for Healthy Travel

I have been lucky to travel since I was born - partly due to being bicultural and living in different countries, but also because I love discovering new places and opening my eyes to different cultures. 

While I love exploring, I have never particularly enjoyed the process of actually getting to and in between places. I’ve had my fair share of delayed or cancelled flights, detours and long drives. And many ‘are we there yet??!’ moments. 

Over the past few years, I have come up with a strategies that make the process of traveling minimally stressful and make the most out of my adventures. 

Here are my top five tips for stress-free, healthy travel:

1. Get some exercise before you go/when you get there: Getting some sort of exercise before leaving on a trip always helps makes me feel calmer while traveling. While I enjoy running, any type of exercise to get your blood flowing is great. If leaving particularly early, getting 10-15 minutes earlier won’t make much of a difference in terms of sleep but can allow you to get in a quick walk or some stretching to make you feel more energized to take on the travels. Even if really tired upon arrival, I always try to get myself outside for a walk or run to get some fresh air. And come on, who doesn't want to start exploring!? As a runner, I usually search on Strava under Explore > Local for popular routes (both running and cycling) in the area. 
2. Get your sleep: Trying to stay/get back on your regular sleep schedule is key when traveling. More rested = better able to enjoy your new surroundings and make healthy choices. When traveling between many times zones, I usually try to avoid napping, to go to bed at a reasonable hour in the new place. I always bring along my lavender essential oil (I particularly like Auracacia’s Mellow Mix which has a relaxing combination of lavender, lemon, camomile and sandalwood). I put a few drops on my wrists and neck before going to sleep. I also take my magnesium supplement (I use Biotics Magnesium Orotate 500) to help me relax and get quality sleep. I usually keep some Melatonin on hand, though only use it if I am really having trouble sleeping. 
3. Eat healthy: Airports, train stations and highway rest stops are not havens of healthy food options. I recommend thinking about and preparing for what you are going to eat en route to avoid a) unhealthy options, or b) get so excessively hungry that you want to ‘eat all the things’ and make poor nutritional choices. I always bring along some sprouted nuts, an a apple or two and some quality protein bars for good measure. Stay tuned for a post on my favorite healthy travel snacks!
4. Stay hydrated: I have my stainless steel Klean Kanteen, and my travel mug wherever I go. Bring a water bottle that you can fill up once you get past security, or if you are in a place where the quality of water is questionable, buy a large bottle of mineral water before boarding so that you can stay hydrated. And don’t worry about having to get up to go to pee! The more you move around, the better!
5. Be flexible: I think one of the greatest things about traveling is that it pushes me to get out of my comfort zone and to be flexible. Travel may give us a rare opportunity to get out of our daily routines and open ourselves to new perspectives. You may aim to maintain lifestyle habits that make you feel good and energetic at home, but it generally isn’t realistic to aim for perfection in doing so in a new place. If you have certain dietary preferences or restrictions, look for places that can accommodate you, but remain open to trying new foods and flavors. 

Enjoy the adventures, and Bon Voyage!