How to Maintain Your Health When Traveling for Work

Guest Post:

Data show that approximately 1.3 million business trips are taken every day in the U.S.. If you are one of the millions traveling for work, your health may be negatively affected. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be the case. Today, the MindSpa Personal Development System presents a variety of ways to maintain your health, even when you’re away from home.

Eat Right 

At home, you can stock your kitchen with all your favorite healthy provisions, and you know which local restaurants serve nutritious foods. Traveling, however, requires a little more planning. Regardless of your method of transportation, pack plenty of healthy travel snacks. Nuts and fruits are especially convenient if you don’t have a way to keep the food chilled. If you’re able to pack a small cooler, consider including string cheese, hummus and sliced carrots.  

Staying in a room with a kitchenette allows you to prepare your own meals. Visit the grocery store on your first day in town. Plan ahead for a healthier dining experience when you do eat out. Order water instead of soda. If possible, look at the menu ahead of time to make a nutritious selection.  

Sleep Well 

If you are traveling to a different time zone, take steps to address jet lag. Try to adjust your sleep schedule before the trip to more closely align with your destination’s time. Get plenty of rest before the trip to minimize the effects of jet lag. Expose yourself to natural light once you have reached your destination to help your body adjust.  

Even if you don’t end up in a different time zone, it can still be difficult to sleep in an unfamiliar place. Fortunately, there are ways to get better hotel sleep. Try to keep your routine consistent with what you do at home, and take time to relax before bed. Consider packing the following items to help you sleep well: 

●      Your own pillow 

●      Eye mask 

●      Ear plugs 

●      Sound machine 

Comfortable sleepwear can help you sleep by regulating your body temperature, allowing for greater mobility and reducing skin irritation. Consider investing in a comfortable pair of pajamas or a flattering and soft nightgown.

You can also try the MindSpa Personal Development System. Its compact system fits easily in your suitcase and it will help you to get the restful sleep you need on your work travels.

Stay Active 

Travel can disrupt your workout routine, but it’s important to stay active. Keep in mind that you don’t necessarily need to follow the same exercise regimen when traveling as you do at home. Try hotel room exercises, such as body-weight exercises and stretching. Take the stairs instead of the elevator.

If your hotel is fairly close to where you will be going for work, walk instead of driving. You can also walk to nearby restaurants, or simply go for a stroll just to explore. Consider staying at a hotel with a gym.  

Minimize Stress 

Travel and work are often stressful, and traveling for work can be doubly so. Do your best to minimize travel stress. Give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport or train station. If you are driving, make sure you have paper directions in case your GPS goes out. You can easily create a PDF of all of your travel route options before you leave. It’s easy to add pages to your PDF before printing so everything is saved together and easily accessible. 

Give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination. Plan carefully and stay organized. Take time to relax when you get to the hotel and try to have some fun on your trip. Before leaving, see what entertainment options are available.  

Avoid Drinking Too Much Caffeine

Business trips can be long and exhausting, but having too much caffeine can make them even more difficult. Caffeine is a natural stimulant that can help wake you up and keep you alert, but it can also lead to jitters, headaches, dehydration, or disrupted sleep patterns.

To avoid the potential negatives of too much caffeine during your business trip, it's important to take breaks throughout the day and get regular exercise. When consuming coffee drinks, look for drinks that don’t have too much caffeine, and try to avoid highly caffeinated options like espresso.

Focus on Healthy Travel Routines

Even though a healthy routine may take a little more planning when you are traveling, the basics for good health are the same whether you are home or away. Eat right, exercise, purchase some comfortable sleepwear so you get enough sleep, limit your caffeine intake, and control stress.