Most people wait all year long for those two weeks of their holiday, when they can indulge themselves and kick it at the beach and party it up in the evening. Partying quickly turns into eating and drinking too much and skipping our exercise routines, so that our body actually has to work harder than ever to keep up. However, if we include some healthy habits into our holiday, we can actually allow our body to rest, relax and rejuvenate and go back home feeling healthy and fresh. So, here are some travel tips that will help you manage your health while you are away enjoying your holiday:
Be prepared
The best thing you can do is be well prepared in advance. Doing your research has never been easier, you can now check restaurant menus online and check out if there are healthy options for eating out in the area you are going to.
See if there will be health food shops there as well, if there won’t, you will need to bring your own supplies. Check out the places and activities available, see if you can go diving, running or maybe kayaking and bring the clothes and any equipment you might need. Maybe you could rent bikes or make reservations for a climbing competition.
Eat healthy
It is all too easy to go overboard with eating when we are travelling as it is hard to resist good restaurant food or foreign delicacies we’ve never tried before. The first thing you can do is to be aware of what and how much you are eating, that is, eat consciously.
Know your calories and act accordingly, be moderate, plan ahead, if you’re going to a restaurant in the evening, eat lighter during the day, save the calories where you can and spend them on something that’s worth it.
When you are out and about, don’t let yourself be dependent on what is on offer in fast food restaurants. This means you have to take pre-packed meals with you, some fresh veggies, fruit, nuts and such, so you don’t have to buy a hotdog in the street. If you are staying in a hotel, stock the fridge with healthy options.
Keep your exercise routine
No matter how hard it seems to include exercise in your day while travelling, it is possible, you only need to set aside 45 minutes to one hour a day for some physical activity. This doesn’t have to be the gym, your options on holiday are many. You can walk for hours while you are sightseeing without even noticing it.
You can go on a long romantic walks on the beach, rent bikes, swim as much as you can, dive, go kayaking or rafting, go jogging and running in a beautiful natural setting. If all of these are off limits, you can bring a workout DVD and exercise in your room. Or you can do a yoga session, ideally on the beach or outdoors.
Opt for a health retreat
A couple of years back I went to a spiritual retreat, an experience which enabled me to get the best of both worlds. I strongly suggest you try it. You will be travelling in the healthiest possible way. Retreats usually have it all covered: healthy food, special diets designed by experts to help your body cleanse and detox, spas, massages, beauty treatments, yoga instructors, Qigong, personal trainers, counselling and so on.
They are typically in a very relaxing, beautiful natural setting that allows you to reconnect with nature and with your inner self. And that is a different kind of party altogether, and probably the kind we need more of.
Remember to think ahead, know what to expect and plan accordingly. Stay conscious of your options and make choices that will benefit you the most in the long run. Taking care of yourself will pay off – you will enjoy your holiday more if you are feeling well.
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Author: Oscar Waterworth
