5 Tips to Stay Healthy While Traveling

Last week I traveled to Providence, R.I. for a work trip. Sometimes when I travel, especially if it’s not for vacation, I can get anxious about being away from my normal routine (Type A problems). I’ve been trying to show myself more grace — less stressing, being more go with the flow and enjoying new experiences instead of worrying about not being able to make it to my normal yoga classes or cook my own food. I know it sounds silly but my stomach is very sensitive to what I eat so knowing that I won’t be able to choose exactly what I eat can make me a little nervous. Plus I’m a little addicted to yoga, so not going to class can cause my anxiety to build up. However, stressing about what I can’t control doesn’t help me so I keep some tips and tricks up my sleeve while I travel to keep my digestive system happy and limit my anxiety. Check out my top 5 tips and tricks to stay healthy while traveling below!

1. BYOS – Bring Your Own Snacks

Spending a long day traveling can easily send me into a hangry state. To avoid the hanger, I always pack some healthy snacks that I can easily pack in my carry-on bag. I also make sure to pack snacks on my flight because small packets of peanuts and pretzels that have been around for God knows how long don’t really do it for me. Rx Bars and apples with peanut butter have nutrient dense ingredients and healthy fats to keep me full. Rx Bars are perfect because they don’t take up much room in your bag and they’re full of healthy ingredients you can pronounce – no weird fillers! During my past work trip, I had some room in my bag so I packed also packed a Ziploc container of almond butter, Rx bars, two honey crisp apples, packets of oatmeal and collagen peptides to add to tea/coffee in the morning. Collagen is great for gut health, hair, skin and joints — I try to take it every day by adding it in smoothies or tea — you can’t taste it. Instead of eating the hotel breakfast that most often is made up of dry pastries, I grabbed a bowl and some hot water to make oatmeal with the packets I brought. I added a scoop of peanut butter for some yummy healthy fats. I took advantage of tea at the hotel and added in collagen for protein as well! I also like to bring some snacks in my purse when I am going to an all-day conference because there can often been long periods of time in between meals, which can cause blood sugar to drop and cause you to lose focus.

2. Bring a Yoga Mat

If you have room in your suitcase, pack a yoga mat! My Manduka lite mat is very thin so it’s easy to fold and store at the bottom of my suitcase. I try to practice a little in the morning if I know I’m going to be sitting at a conference all day. This allows me to sweat, move mindfully and set an intention before a long day of meetings. If I have time after my conference, I love to get back on my mat, even for just a few minutes, to stretch out and move my body since I usually feel stiff from so much stagnation. This is also a great way for me to wind down and get some “me time” in. I’m an introvert and spending my whole day at a conference and networking can be draining so this time allows me to reset and take some time to unwind. A yoga mat is also great to bring if you to want to do a body weight workout without having to leave your hotel room!

3. Select a Hotel with a Gym

If you have a variety of hotel choices, try to choose one with a gym if you like to work out with equipment. Almost all hotels have at least a small gym with some equipment and often some mat space if you want to get your yoga on. 😊 As you may have read in this post, I like to do various workouts to complement my yoga practice. Sometimes I crave some cardio or just like to get some steps in before a day full of sitting, so I will spend some time in the morning on the elliptical or treadmill. When I take time to sweat in the morning, I feel less antsy during the day and am more focused. Getting our heart rate up wakes up our body and our brain so we are ready to go and can get the most out of our day!

4. Pack Probiotics/Enzymes

While traveling, many of us dine out a lot, eat at different times than normal or eat things we don’t typical eat, which is completely normal. When I dine out, my stomach can be sensitive to ingredients/oils in food that I don’t normally consume. To keep my belly happy and regular, I take a Probiotic daily and a Digestive Enzyme after each meal. Digestive enzymes break down food into nutrients so our bodies can absorb them more easily. Probiotics replenish the beneficial bacteria in our body, which enhances nutrient absorption and reduces inflammation that can be caused by foods we are sensitive to. These two should keep your digestive system happy so you won’t have to worry about bloat/discomfort and can enjoy your trip! *Note: I am not a doctor but this has helped me immensely.

5. Be Flexible

It can be hard to stay on schedule with traveling. If you’re on vacation, I say who cares about the schedule and go get out there and enjoy your vacay! 😊 However, if I’m on a short work trip during the week, I try to stay close to my schedule of waking up early for yoga or a workout and going to bed at a decent time so I’m not exhausted the next day in meetings. Our bodies like a schedule so I try to stay close to mine but I don’t let that keep me from having fun and socializing. If someone wants to grab a drink a little later than you normally would and you want to go, go enjoy it! Your bedtime will be there tomorrow. If there’s a local restaurant or cuisine you want to try, eat it! It doesn’t matter if it’s gluten-free, dairy-free or whatever label you usually try to abide by – treats should be enjoyed. We don’t have much control over these little things while we travel so don’t let them stress you out. Missing workouts or eating foods you normally don’t is not a big deal. Enjoy your trip, move your body if you get the chance to and eat some fruits and vegetables here and there and you’ll be good to go!

What are some of your favorite tips to feel good while traveling? Let me know in the comments!