Travel for leisure or work can be a liberating experience. After all, it offers you the chance to meet new people or explore new places and cultures. However, you might be exposed to different climatic conditions, unfamiliar food, and routine changes, putting your body in turmoil. Furthermore, you might be used to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. But travel changes all the elements required to maintain a routine. You might not get the opportunity to cook healthy meals or follow a sleep schedule.
This ultimately takes a toll on your immune system, and chances are you may fall sick while traveling. However, these factors should not deter you from exploring places, and for your help, we bring you six ways you can avoid getting sick when you travel.
6 Ways to Avoid Getting Sick When You Travel:
- Play it Safe on Public Transportation
Whenever you take public transportation such as a plane, bus or train, always ensure that you clean or sanitize your seat before sitting. People who might be seated before you might be infected or sick. So, bring a packet of wet wipes and clean surfaces like armrests and table trays on buses, trains, or planes.
In this pandemic, it’s wise to travel in your vehicle if you choose to travel by road. Also, you can attach adjustable cargo roof rack for added travel gear.
- Maintain Proper Hand Hygiene and Wear a Mask
The covid pandemic has once again brought our health into focus. It has emphasized that health is the most important thing and that we should take utmost care to preserve our well-being. Although travel has opened up, we should still follow covid protocols of washing hands and wearing a mask in public places. We tend to touch more surfaces than we could imagine when we travel.
Hence, it is advised to keep washing hands, preferably with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds. This can arrest the proliferation of germs that cause respiratory and diarrhoeal infections.
As per a study, we touch our faces about 16 times each hour. Moreover, our eyes, mouth, and nose are entry points for germs. So not touching your face often, especially when you travel, can mitigate the risks of infection. Furthermore, don’t forget to wear a proper face mask when you travel. Although a mandate during the pandemic, a face mask can shield you from numerous viruses and contagious diseases.
- Try to Eat Healthy Meals
We usually look forward to yummy meals when we travel. This is especially true during the holiday season. However, this can cause gastrointestinal issues like bloating, acidity, and upset stomach. Hence, keep your gluttony in check when traveling and include protein at every meal. So, if you are attending a Thanksgiving dinner, be sure to have your fill of turkey rather than any fried or sugary treats.
Also, try to eat many fruits when traveling since fruits pack a lot of nutrients and are handy when traveling. Eat fruits like bananas as they are readily available, filling, and fibrous food. Besides, bananas are a rich source of potassium which helps control blood pressure and heart rate.
- Carry a Water Bottle
It’s always a good idea to carry your water bottle while traveling. Staying hydrated maintains your energy levels during those arduous walks around the town or a trekking expedition. Also, fluids help to keep your body’s system functioning well oiled. Hence, always carry a reusable water bottle with drinkable water.
You might not realize it, but you might just end up sipping more water if there is a handy water bottle at your disposal. However, make sure to check the purity of the water source while you get your refills.
- Consume Alcoholic Beverages with Caution
Alcohol is always added to the mix, especially if you travel for leisure or during the holiday season. Although you don’t have to shun it completely, you need to keep a tab on the amount of alcohol. You might go overboard with your drinks, which might ruin that much-planned sightseeing around a new place the following day.
To counter the hangover effects, choose to have a smaller glass or add a dash of alcohol to your cocktails. This way, you can limit alcohol intake. Also, eat some food with your glass of liquor.
- Snack Healthily
Avoid binging on finger food when you travel. To counter those meal cravings, carry healthy snacks like roasted peanuts or crackers. These are easy to carry and also appease your taste buds while on the go. Alternatively, yogurt or soup are other healthy snack options when traveling. You can shop for these items at any supermarket or departmental store during one of your walking tours around the city.
However, if you are traveling to a relatively obscure place, packing some protein-based energy bars can help. Such healthy snacking staves off hunger and helps you eat well at mealtimes. To avoid this you should watch videos like Glenn Quagmire.
Takeaway
Travelling can be a fun and enjoyable experience. It gives you a lifetime of experiences and memories to cherish. However, sickness during travel can make your travel itinerary go awry. The tips mentioned in this blog are practical and easy to follow so that you enjoy your vacation to the fullest.
