During the winter season, holiday travel greatly spikes up, as so many people have plans to go home to see family and friends. In addition to holiday travel, lots of people, especially in the Northeast, look to plan weekend getaways or vacations to warmer destinations to avoid the cold and snowy weather.
With so much traveling going on, it can be hard to stay in your normal routine that keeps you good and healthy. Luckily, there are several things that you can do to avoid getting sick as best as possible.
We have pulled together some tips on how you can stay as healthy as possible during all your holiday travel. Check them out here:
1 – Get as much sleep as possible.
Sleep is critical to staying healthy in general, especially during the winter months and while you are constantly on the go traveling. This rings especially true for people who are traveling within different time zones. Ultimately, it is important that you get as much sleep as you possibly can ahead of your trip, and that you are recovering with enough sleep after your trip. For a lot of people, you can take advantage of a longer plane ride by dozing off for a few hours. For those that are not able to sleep on flights, make sure that you are using that time to relax as best as possible.
2 – Hydrate.
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! When you are on vacation, you are fully removed from your regular routine, which can derail you from hydrating properly. Whether you bring your ESWB (emotional support water bottle – we all have them!) with you along on your trip or not, make sure that you are taking the time to hydrate – with water! Try to make sure that no matter where you are, whether you are at a hotel, sightseeing, or off on a walk, you have access to water. A good rule of thumb to making sure that you are starting off on the right foot each day is to have two glasses of water immediately when you wake up. Once you get into this routine, it will be easier to stay on track!
3 – Use hand sanitizer and wash your hands.
Washing your hands and regularly using hand sanitizer, especially when dining out, is a super easy way to avoid sickness that is also extremely effective. When arriving at a restaurant, head to the bathroom to wash your hands ahead of your meal, and make sure that you are sanitizing your hands before picking up any food that you will be putting into your mouth. It is also smart to avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, nose, or mouth, if your hands are not cleaned and sanitized.
4 – Stay active.
Staying active is an important way to take care of your body, and especially if you are traveling. While for many people an ideal vacation is laying on the beach (which, it definitely is!), try to make sure that you are incorporating movement throughout your days, so that you are getting your heart rate up and speeding up your metabolism. Plus, you will get endorphins from the movement, which is sure to put you in an even better mood!
5 – Pack the right clothes.
You must make sure that you are appropriately packing for trips, and not overdressing or underdressing, which can cause you to get sick. For example, if you know that you will be traveling somewhere that is chilly, ensure that you have a thick enough coat, and the proper accessories, such as a scarf, winter hat, and gloves. Check out the weather for your destination before traveling so that you are prepared.