by Christian Bossert
What do you eat when you travel? How often do you exercise? Are you sleeping well when you’re away from home?
It’s hard to take care of ourselves when we’re on the road. It’s not surprising that many of us get sick after a stint of travel time. If you could find a way to be healthier during your travels, would you embrace the opportunity? It’s far easier than I thought it would be. I decided to put these “5 expert tips” to the test when I traveled over the holidays, and this is what I found out.
1. Hydrate
This one proved to be huge. I set out to drink at least a gallon of water (128 oz) daily. This number was not reached every day, but within arms reach daily. I did not completely stick to a healthy diet. I shamelessly ate sweet potato casserole, turkey, mashed potatoes, pizza, cake, etc. etc. Not to mention the array of beer, wine and cocktails (I’ll admit it, I love to drink). Fortunately I drank plenty water. As a bonus I worked out in some capacity each day (cardio or strength training). Make hydration a top priority when traveling
2. Get Enough Sleep
The difference between a good night of sleep and a sleep deprived morning can seem as vast as the Grand Canyon. Prioritizing sleep is a good choice. Consider it one of the most important decisions you make over the course of your day. With less obligations I did not struggle with this one over the holidays, but I did set out to fall asleep and wake up at the same time consistently. The result was more energy, less coffee, and no naps necessary during the day. Plus, I found myself in a far better mood throughout the day. For some this could be an absolute must when hanging around the fam for an extended period of time. Have a target bed time and get your butt there on time.
3. Don’t quit working out
This is your energy restorer. Prioritize exercising. Even if it is for ten minutes. Ten minutes of focused exercise will absolutely make a difference. Finding time to exercise over the holidays was not difficult for me, but I understand how difficult it can be when you have flights to catch, meetings to attend, and emails to answer. Before you go to sleep, committing yourself to exercising the next day sets exercising in your subconscious mind as a tip top priority as you battle through the day. This means the odds of you exercising increase substantially. Prioritize exercising and schedule it into your next day schedule each evening before you go to sleep.
4. Eat healthy and don’t forget to snack
This was one of the most difficult tasks to follow over the holidays. Full disclosure, I did eat some of my Nana’s famous cookies, drink a few (and a few more) cocktails, and splurge on my grandfather’s Italian pasta with sausage. What I did notice is by following the first three tips described above I did not drink nearly as much alcohol or eat processed food. Instead I opted for fruit and veggies. I felt like a million bucks and slept like a baby. Didn’t gain a single pound.
*5. No heavy lifting
I’m not entirely on board with this one. This is more of a reference to lugging around heavy objects with bad form and less about avoiding going to the gym and banging out an intense lifting session. I am a minimalist when it comes to traveling. The less I take the better the trip will be. Consider leaving out a few items that aren’t absolutely necessary.
I did not gain ANY weight and upon arriving home. Usually it takes me a few days to get back into my routine. Not the case here. I jumped back into my exercise and diet regimen. Cheers to feeling great in 2018!
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