Healthy Travel Tips and Their Health Benefits
Ahhh, your feet are up, the sun is shining, and there is new scenery to enjoy and to explore. You feel relaxed and happy. You feel eager to explore and to enjoy each day. You’re thankful that you are healthy enough to still enjoy traveling as you age.
You are also wondering what the health benefits of traveling are, and how you can incorporate healthy travel tips. Granted, preparing for a trip isn’t always a walk on the beach, but there is some pretty strong evidence to suggest that there are health benefits to traveling, especially recreational travel. It can boost your mood and your health.
Traveling Helps You Relax and Reduce Your Stress
Many of the health benefits involve managing our stress hormones. The demands of life can certainly take a toll on our physical, mental, and emotional health. When we experience sustained levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), our body will take a hit. Stress can also create havoc, impacting your gut health as well as your metabolism. We are also at a higher risk of chronic disease and ailments. Taking a trip to a new state or country (or even a walk in a new neighborhood) gives us a chance to reset those levels and enjoy the novelty of a new environment.
Traveling allows us time to relax, to soothe worries and concerns, and to step back and think about problems we may be facing in a new light. Traveling essentially provides us with the ability to step away from the routine cares and stresses of life.
The Health Benefits of Traveling
The great news? You don’t have to be sitting on the beach to realize these benefits. Even long after the trip has ended, the improved quality of life continues on! In fact, researchers have seen stress levels stay low for more than 5 weeks after the end of the vacation! The great reset, as well as the good memories of the vacation, can sustain us for quite some time. What a great stress management tool!
Another cool benefit of traveling is that participants often see a boost in creativity. Research from the American Psychological Association shows that those who have spent time abroad have higher creative tendencies than their non-traveling counterparts. This is often because travel exposes us to new ideas, people, and experiences, thereby broadening our perspective.
One thing to keep in mind is that you don’t have to go far or spend a lot of money to reap the health benefits of travel. Even a small weekend trip or a simple change of scenery can help boost your overall well-being. Are you convinced yet? Ready to book that Caribbean island trip you’ve been eyeing? Go for it! You’ll be less stressed, more creative, and a better version of yourself. Check out some of the top places to go! If you are stressed out and wondering if you should take that weekend getaway, learn what stress does to your body.
Small Trips Are Also Beneficial
Travel has many benefits for your health and wellness. By leaving the stress of work and daily life behind, you provide yourself with a chance to slow down, absorb new experiences, and focus on making meaningful memories. Blocking time out on your calendar to travel can also promote brain health and challenge your perceptions. When you experience a new environment, you heighten your observations, and your focus intensifies; this, in turn, sharpens your mind. By stepping into a new place, you can gain perspective on your life, and you greatly reduce the feeling of burnout or exhaustion at work.
It’s also important to ensure you don’t get sick while traveling. Feeling crummy is the fastest way to ruin this special time you’ve planned and waited for. So we’ve compiled some healthy travel tips to keep you fighting fit as you explore a new place.
Healthy Travel Tips
Travel Tips
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate: The day before you begin travel, make a concerted effort to remain totally hydrated. This can be difficult when boarding planes, trains, or automobiles, but the reward of remaining healthy is worth it. Equip your body to handle the stress of travel. Drink lots of water both during transit and during the duration of your trip. If you are heading to a place where water is unsafe to drink, consider a water treatment kit.
- Pack snacks: Take nuts, fruit, protein, and fiber-rich snacks with you. You’ll reduce the risk of exposure to bacteria, support your gut health, and keep your blood sugar balanced by bringing your own snacks. This is especially helpful if you have a sensitive stomach. While it’s wonderful to sample the local fare, it’s also handy to have a little food on hand. Just in case you can’t locate a suitable place to eat. This will also help you avoid the temptation to eat sugary or greasy snacks and support a healthy immune system.
- Take sleep seriously: Whatever it takes, an eye mask, earplugs, or soothing music, get to bed at a reasonable hour so your body can adjust to any time changes. Getting a solid eight hours of sleep will help you feel refreshed and energized to explore each day. Quality sleep also supports immune function, digestion, energy production, and healthy stress hormone balance.
- Bring your carry-on items: Travel-sized hand sanitizer, baby wipes, and a small first aid kit are great things to keep with you as you roam.
- Focus on Safety: While you are traveling, paying attention to your surroundings, doing research before you go, and letting family members know your plans are some of the most important travel tips.
- Sit down: While traveling on public transit, find the least crowded spot on your train, plane, bus, or boat. If it’s possible, try to sit down. Your chances of touching a pole or handle swarming with germs will be lowered.
If you want more tips for managing stress or building a strong foundation as you age, check out our Managing Stress Workshop or the Healthy Habits Challenge. We hope you take time this year to plan a memorable vacation or break. We also wish you a happy and healthy adventure!
Bon voyage!