[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t’s hard enough to maintain a healthy lifestyle when you’re at home, but when you’re on a business trip it can feel nearly impossible. When you travel, you end up far away from your local gym and no longer have access to your own pantry or fridge, which is typically stocked with the healthy foods you enjoy. However, it’s still possible to maintain a healthy lifestyle while traveling for work, and here are three simple ways you can do it.
#1: Get the Rest You Need
Too many people skimp on sleep because they don’t fully understand its importance. The reality is that sleep is essential to maintaining your overall health and well-being. When you get the sleep you need, your body and mind are given an opportunity to repair and regenerate, so that they can work at optimal levels when you’re awake. A good night’s sleep can help you stay focused and productive, while boosting your mood and lowering your stress levels.
Sleep is especially important for the traveling worker. If you’re on a business trip, you’re most likely traveling in order to take a meeting with clients or attend a professional conference of some kind. Since you’re going to these places as a representative of your company, it’s of the utmost importance that you stay on top of your game and make a good impression. That’s a very hard thing to do when you’re groggy with exhaustion.
While sleep is especially important on the road, it can be exceptionally difficult as well. You’re probably hopping on flights, staying in unfamiliar hotels, maybe even traveling across time zones—all of these factors can negatively impact the quality of your sleep. In order to get a better night’s sleep, try drinking some chamomile tea before bed or take a sleep supplement like melatonin.
#2: Spend Time Outdoors
When you’re on the road, you can spend days at a time crammed into a rental car, train, or airplane. This can be uncomfortable and, most importantly, unhealthy. It’s important to get outside from time to time, breathe in some fresh air, stretch out your legs. If the hotel you’re staying in doesn’t have a gym, or if you’d prefer not to use it, get your exercise outside.
Going for a run outdoors is a great way to keep in shape while traveling and, at the same time, explore whatever city you’re in. If you’ve been on quick business trips before, then you know that it can often be difficult to find time to explore your surroundings. If you’re the curious type, then going on a run while traveling can knock out two birds with one stone: You’ll get some much-needed exercise while being able to see the city. Maybe you’ll even discover an interesting shop or restaurant that you can return to later.
If you do plan on getting outside and exercising while traveling, just make sure you pack accordingly. Throw a breathable shirt, a pair of shorts, and a pair of black running shoes into your luggage so that you’re prepared to run whenever, wherever.
#3: Stay Hydrated
Drinking plenty of water is a must during your normal day-to-day life, but it takes on a particular urgency when traveling. That’s because traveling can be chaotic at times, and in that chaos, it can be easy to forget to drink enough water.
Staying hydrated is also important when you’re on the road because water by itself can help to fill up your stomach and curb the temptation to overindulge in airport food, local restaurants, room service, and greasy hotel breakfasts. Additionally, drinking a sufficient amount of water keeps your digestive system healthy and working at full capacity, so that you can more easily digest the food you do eat while traveling.
The best way to stay hydrated while traveling is to keep a water bottle around you at all times, so that it’s easily accessible. But the type of water bottle you use depends on where you’re going. In some parts of the world, the tap water can be unsafe. So, if you know ahead of time that you won’t have access to filtered drinking water, make sure to pick up bottled water wherever you can and exclusively drink that.
While it may require some self-discipline, don’t think that it’s impossible to maintain a healthy lifestyle while traveling. Even if you only try out one of these tips, you’ll likely be able to see the difference it makes.
