Affiliate Disclosure

I recently shared how I eat healthy when I am traveling. I am going to share more strategies I have for staying healthy while traveling. Even if you aren’t changing time zones, traveling can wear you down. Listed below are important practices I have that make me feel better while I am staying away from home.

1. Exercise

Some of the healthiest forms of exercise while on the road include taking a brisk walk or swimming. I always love how I feel after a good swim. If you are staying in a safe area, take a walk, breathe in some fresh air and take in the sights and sounds. This is always very relaxing for me.

If your hotel has a gym or offers passes to a local gym, take advantage of this! Sometimes there are free classes you can join. Try to pump some iron while you are there. Your body will thank you.

2. Sleep

I know firsthand from traveling that it sucks away your energy. It is very important not just when you are at home, but while you are on the road to get adequate sleep. This isn’t always possible if you have to catch an early morning flight or a red eye, but try to do your best to go to bed around the same time every night and get at least 8-9 hours of sleep. You may not be used to sleeping this long and there may be an adjustment period.

3. Reduce Toxins

One way to reduce the amount of toxins while traveling is to bring a “bath ball” or shower filter with you. These eliminate or greatly reduce the chlorine and other chemicals in the water. On the GAPS diet, it is recommend to take detox baths daily. Detox baths can include baking soda, epsom salts, bentonite clay or even seaweed powder! They are very relaxing.

Drink bottled or filtered water. If you have access to a filter at work or other places, bring your stainless steel or glass water bottle with you and fill up. I know bottled water isn’t the best option, but it is important to reduce your exposure to chlorine, fluorine and other harmful substances found in unfiltered water.

Try to get fresh air daily. It has been shown that indoor air, even inside your house can be more polluted than the outside air. Go outside for a short walk before or after you eat dinner. If you are able to, open a window in your room.

4. Reduce Stress

The foods we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink can all make us sick. Even if you have greatly reduced your toxic load in these areas, stress can do a number on our bodies.

I tend to be somewhat of a worrier. I can really stress myself out at times. This only harms me. I have started to realize most of the time, there is no point in me worrying.

A good question to ask yourself when you are stressed is: can I change or control anything by worrying or getting upset? Most of the time, the answer is no. If you are not able to calm yourself down, try to remove yourself from the situation. Take a walk or try to work on or focus on something else. You are only doing harm to yourself by stressing out.

I want to share one of my favorite verses from the Bible (Matthew 6:25-34, New Jerusalem Bible):

“That is why I am telling you not to worry about your life and what you are to eat, nor about your body and what you are to wear. Surely life is more than food, and the body more than clothing!

Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap or gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they are?

Can any of you, however much you worry, add one single cubit to your span of life?

And why worry about clothing? Think of the flowers growing in the fields; they never have to work or spin;

yet I assure you that not even Solomon in all his royal robes was clothed like one of these.

Now if that is how God clothes the wild flowers growing in the field which are there today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, will he not much more look after you, you who have so little faith?

So do not worry; do not say, “What are we to eat? What are we to drink? What are we to wear?”

It is the gentiles who set their hearts on all these things. Your heavenly Father knows you need them all.

Set your hearts on his kingdom first, and on God’s saving justice, and all these other things will be given you as well.

So do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Even if you are not religious, these are great words to live by!

5. Explore!

I start to go crazy if I get cooped up in the hotel room. Go out to sight see and go to a good quality restaurant to taste the local food. You never know when you will have time to come back and enjoy yourself!

What strategies do you use to stay healthy while traveling?