Last updated November 10, 2022
It’s no surprise that incorporating wellness into your travels can be tough. Simply changing your schedule and location can be enough to throw you off balance and disrupt any routine you have going on!
But not every trip you take will be primarily wellness travel. Yet that doesn’t mean every trip can’t include a wellness routine. After all, self-care is important for your overall well-being.
And being proactive can go a long way in boosting your sense of wellness. When you feel well, you feel good about yourself.
With a little bit of planning and preparation, you can incorporate wellness into your travels. Follow these 10 tips to help ensure your wellness routine won’t fall by the wayside.
Table of contents
Get adequate sleep
Travel can certainly disrupt your sleep patterns. The good news is that many wellness hotels now offer earplugs, circadian lighting and noise machines to help you maintain proper sleep hygiene. Don’t skimp on sleep—listen to your body and rest when you need to. In so doing, you strengthen your immune system.
Make healthy food choices
You don’t have to give up healthy eating when you’re traveling—just make smart choices. Try to have healthy snacks on hand to keep up your energy when you’re on the move. And when dining out, make sure to choose options that come with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Drink lots of water
Start and end your day with a big glass of water, and make sure to carry a water bottle with you at all times. By staying properly hydrated, you allow your body the best chance to fight off infections and stay healthy. Similarly, good hydration helps keep your kidneys, skin and other organs functioning at their best.
Move your body
Opportunities for exercise can be far and few between when traveling. By choosing a wellness hotel that offers a variety of exercise options, you have a better chance of working out. And by adding a few basic exercises that you can do in your hotel room—think stretching, yoga, hula hooping, jumping jacks—you are less reliant on any fitness facilities.
Allow downtime
Travel is already hard work, whether for business or pleasure. So why burn the candle at both ends trying to fit everything in? A valid way to keep it all together while traveling (and not lose your mind) is to make sure you don’t overdo it and build downtime into your travel agenda.
Explore by foot
Choosing to walk instead of taking public transportation or a taxi has numerous benefits. Not only is walking a great way to get a feel for the place you’re visiting, but it also gives you the chance to meet locals—plus breathe fresh air. If you want to step it up a notch, consider taking stairs rather than an elevator.
Take supplements
Vitamins and minerals can promote wellness by providing your body with the micronutrients it needs. Supplements, like vitamin C and zinc, are known to boost your immune system and reduce the chance of illness. Probiotics, on the other hand, can help maintain an even keel in the tummy department.
Protect your skin
Travel by itself can be pretty rough on the skin. Changes in temperature and climate can cause drying in some cases and extra oil in others. Make sure to pack your daily moisturizer and sunscreen—and remember to reapply as per instructions, especially if sweating and swimming. Don’t forget a hat and sunglasses, too.
Avoid germs
Exposure to coughs and colds becomes more likely while traveling, and even the healthiest may find themselves sick in the days that follow. To reduce your chances of getting sick, wash your hands often and carry wet wipes or hand sanitizer so you can freshen up in between. And of course, wear a face mask to reduce transmission risk.
Cultivate the right mindset
Traveling can definitely mess with your head. When you rewire your mindset and think positive, your entire outlook brightens up as well. Make a mental list of each thing you’re looking forward to—this creates a feeling of anticipation and excitement. You may even forget about the negatives.
The moral of this story? It’s simpler than you think to incorporate wellness into your travels.
According to research, wellness wanderlust is projected to accelerate in the next five years thanks to health consciousness. Be the wellness traveltrender that you are and jump on the wellness travel bandwagon 😉
