Simple Ways to Stay Healthy When Traveling

No matter what time of year, taking a vacation is all fun and games until you think about not getting off track on a diet or worrying about your immune system keeping up to speed! Traveling anywhere is such an experience and something we are so incredibly lucky to do. Sticking to your normal habits doesn't have to be hard to do - in fact, it'll make traveling feel even more "normal". Vacations are meant to give you a break and be an exciting time to explore; relax, discover the world and meet new people. In all the excitement it can be SO hard to not lose track of your healthy habits, and even not realize how easy it really is to be healthy (in more ways than one!) no matter where you're exploring. These simple things will help you mindlessly stay healthy during your travels:

Bring your own food to travel with

There's no way to really eat healthy with airport or airplane food - to avoid buying a bag of chips or something that isn't healthy AND costs a fortune, bring your own snacks! I always take some sort of fruit and any other snack that's in a sealed bag that can stay in my carry-on. The stress of getting to the airport, through security and to your gate on time will make you rush for any fast food spot you see in the airport but if you have your own snacks with you that you already know you love you can relax, not rush and not spend a ton of money on crappy food.

Take advantage of where you are

If you're traveling somewhere warm, take advantage of the beach view or mountain view and walk each day! Spend more time outside than in your hotel room; explore more and in return, you'll walk more. Track your steps on your FitBit, Apple Watch or whatever you use to track your progress and make daily goals for yourself. It won't feel like extra exercise on vacay because you get to enjoy the views, weather and your destinations beauty!

Grocery shop when you arrive

I know this isn't always ideal or possible, but if you can (and most likely, you can!) go to Target, a grocery store, farmer's market, etc. and buy some fresh fruit, lots of water (stay hydrated!) and whatever else you normally eat at home. I always do this and stock my hotel room's fridge as if it's my own! ;) I don't know about you guys, but when I travel the high altitude makes my feet swell so much! It's extremely frustrating but I know that if I don't eat the foods I normally do and drink as much water as I do daily, my body will not react well and I'll be a big bloated mess my entire trip.

Don't forget to take care of your skin

When you travel, weight limitations can make it really hard to maintain your normal skincare routine! But our skin needs even more TLC than normal when we travel so it's even more important to add in hydration, cleanse, the whole nine yards. I do whatever I need to have my main skincare products with me - even if that means leaving a few clothing items out. JK, most likely I'll add a bag! LOL. This applies even MORE if you're going to be in the sun on your trip.

Sheet masks are one of my favorite things to pack and take on trips - they are SO great for your skin, so refreshing (especially after a long travel day or a day in the sun!) and they're extremely easy to pack and barely take up any space. Here's some of my favorites for long vacations:

A couple other of my tried and true, must haves for every trip:

Too Much Fun in the Sun Face Mask: here's another sheet mask I love to travel with - it's so great to use after a long day in the sun and it feels so good on your skin! It's only $5 and your face will thank you if you spent a liiittle too much time in the sun. ;)

Tarte FRXXXTION Exfoliating Cleanser Stick: since this is an exfoliating cleanser, it's sort of like a two-in-one, so it's great to take on a vacation because it's one less product to worry about, it can even go in your carry-on and it's small and compact. I LOVE Tarte's skincare products and this is no different, it works wonders and you'll end up using it daily, not just for your travels!

Blotting Papers: these are my #1 holy grail beauty buy EVER. There is nothing worse than feeling oily when you're on a plane, and these will be your saving grace.

Tarte Maracuja Oil: any time you're in a new environment I think your skin is the most important thing to take care of. Different climate, weather - whatever it may be, and Tarte's Maracuja oil is sooo helpful in calming your skin. It gives you a really pretty, natural glow and it's a small bottle so it's easy to travel with.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Mask: this is a moisturizing "mask" for overnight and every time I use it, by the morning I can feel a serious difference in the softness of my skin. Again, extra TLC for traveling is very important and you will love this stuff!

Indulge, but don't overdo it

All in all, there's no point in holding yourself back from enjoying a carb-heavy meal that you love, or getting an ice cream at the beach. It's vacation for a reason! ;) But if you're planning on indulging in one meal, let's say dinner at a really great restaurant, try to eat lighter or healthier throughout the rest of the day. It's very hard to always eat healthily when you're on a trip but you'll be glad you did once you get home and step on the scale and you'll feel better too - it is the WORST to feel bloated or "blah" because of too much heavy eating when you're on vacation.

Don't forget to relax!

It sounds pretty self explanatory but think about it! A lot of times I think we find ourselves wanting a vacation from taking a vacation... It can be really stressful to get places on time! Between connecting flights, making sure you've packed everything you need (within weight limits - that's no easy task am I right ladies??) and the overall tiring process that is getting to your destination, it's hard to remember to take some time to seriously rest and relax. After all, that's usually the main goal of taking a vacay! Be more mindful with everything and take your time - you aren't in your usual daily routine of rushing through a meal or hurrying to run errands or get things done. You can be in your own element, take your time to do things and really relax and live in the present moment.

No matter where your destination is, taking some time to rejuvenate your mind is so refreshing! Don't forget to do just that on each trip you take.

Don't be afraid to be a germophobe

Even if you aren't a crazy person when it comes to cleaning (raising my hand!) things in public, do it anyway. Be extra cautious. It's WAY too easy to get sick when you're traveling for obvious reasons and even more so during flu season. Carry a pack of Wet Ones wipes (super easy to store in your bag) and hand sanitizer (buy a bunch of travel sized bottles here to always have with you!) and use them religiously. I wipe down the tray and seat on airplanes and wash my hands constantly and it makes a huge difference - I don't want to jinx it, but I rarely get sick after a trip and I'm positive it's because of how cautious I am! A handful of people will be doing the same thing, most won't care, and some will think you're nuts - but if you're healthy, who cares right?

If we're being totally honest, I usually do the same thing at a hotel - I use wipes and wipe things down because you can't be too careful if you ask me!

Most importantly, don't forget to have fun and enjoy the moment. Make memories and the rest will come naturally! 

XOXO -A