Don’t Skip Exercise

Unless your vacation involves hiking or something similarly physical, don’t skip your daily exercise routine. Most hotels have work-out rooms, and though it may not be as extensive as your local gym, it’s something. If you’re a runner, jogger or walker, use the morning hours in your new locale to get your bearings and pick out a hidden lunch spot or coffee shop for later in the day. Try to keep to your routine as much as possible including taking vitamin or isolate protein supplements.

Drink This – Not That

Experts have long touted the beneficial power of water and for good reason. If you strive to get your 8 glasses a day when you’re at home, you should continue to do so on vacation. In fact, it might be wise to add in a few extra cups. Traveling can be dehydrating as can some climates. If you’re traveling to a destination like Colorado, for example, it’s important to drink plenty of water to avoid getting altitude sickness. Some places like Arizona are so dry, your sweat evaporates immediately which makes it doubly important to constantly replace fluids. While adding extra healthy fluids into your body, be careful of the amount of alcohol you drink. Alcohol itself stops the antidiuretic hormone (ADH) from working well, meaning you must go to the bathroom more. This can lead to dehydration if you’re not replacing those fluids with water. Consuming large quantities of alcohol can also lead to poor decision making which can have huge consequences when you’re on vacation partially because you have fewer people you can trust looking out for you when you’re away from home.

Sleep Well

You may be exhausted from your thrilling day of adventure and exploration only to discover that you can’t fall asleep in a strange hotel room. Even in the nicest hotels, many things can prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep from thin walls to flat pillows. A common gripe at hotels is drapes that don’t shut all the way allowing a sliver of sunlight to shine right across your eyes. A simple solution is to carry a binder clip in your suitcase to clamp the curtains shut. Another way to solve the problem is to pack an eye shade. If you find hotel pillows too flat or too fluffy, try asking for a different style at the front desk. Sometimes you can be accommodated. Hotel rooms are notoriously hot. There are plenty of on-line hacks to get the thermostat to respond, but always pack light pajamas just in case. Good sleep is important to staying healthy when you travel.

Stay Out of the Sun

Staying out of the sun makes no sense when you’re taking a beach vacation, obviously, but one of the quickest ways to ruin your fun is by getting a painful sunburn. You must always assume that the sun is out to get you, especially if you are traveling to a sunnier climate or one with thinner air than you are used to. You also must be careful if you go to cloudy Seattle, for example, as cloud cover can just lull you into thinking that you don’t need sunscreen. In fact, in some cases you are at greater risk for a bad burn on a cloudy day because you might stay out longer. Even though only 30% of the sun’s rays reach you through the clouds, you must multiply this times the extra hours you’re outside.

Staying healthy and fit while on vacation is all about keeping the best part of your health routines such as sleeping, drinking water and exercising while limiting your sun and alcohol intake. Give your body the best chance to feel good on your trip.

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