It’s important to stay healthy while away from home as inevitably there will be times when you can feel ill due to lack of sleep or over-tiredness and this feeling can easily translate to a physical illness. Yes, hand gel will reduce your exposure to bacteria and avoiding street food can sometimes be a wise decision but in general, there are many steps you can take to stay healthy why you travel.

Here are 5 ways to stay healthy while away from home:

Avoid Splurging and snacking

Have you ever returned from a vacation or trip abroad and felt entirely deflated? Again, this is a feeling which can most certainly be avoided.
We have a tendency to eat and drink more when we are away from home. This is usually the case when it comes to vacation in particular but also in times when there is nothing else to do, for example, snacking on a bus journey or a long haul flight. Regardless of where and when you do this, unnecessary snacking or “splurging” is unhealthy and usually unnecessary too. You will not regret making a conscious decision to resist the urge and maintain the same diet so avoid splurging and snacking in general.
Tip: Instead of taking unhealthy snacks, bring a healthy alternative such as a piece of fruit or crackers with cheese.

Take a break from digital

At a time when a smart phone is almost an extension of one’s arm, taking a break from the digital world has never been more important.
Anyone who works in an office can tell you how exhausting or stressful it can be to stare at a computer screen all day. Similarly, using a smart phone for long periods will have the same effect and result in an overload of information for an already overloaded brain. We need space in order to think clearly and a constant stream of advertising, marketing and musings is simply not good for you.
Thankfully, the prospect of escaping digital is easier while away from home as there should be more to stimulate the mind in the “real world”. That said it still takes an effort to put the phone down and engage in something else so keep it in mind on your travels.
Tip: Replace your smartphone with a book for few hours, favor walking outdoors over television or take a yoga/meditation class to explore some healthy alternatives to scrolling.

Remember to stay hydrated

Unfortunately the process of travel and feeling ill can happen in unison but most of the time this can be avoided by staying hydrated. Water is a minimum requirement for survival, we all know that but in more specific terms it helps to regulate body temperature and flush bacteria out of the system. Studies have also shown how a persons’ immune system can dictate whether they fall ill or not and quite often, this very occurrence can be attributed to dehydration. Contrary to popular belief, dehydration does not always lead to a quench of thirst and this is usually the reason as to why you might suspect an illness rather than the actual cause.
In this regard, the best way to stay healthy while away from home is to drink at least 3 – 4 liters of water every day and most importantly to remember to do so, especially when you feel it’s not necessary.
Tip: Always change your water bottle every few days. Studies show that using the same water bottle increases exposure to germs, and therefore makes you more susceptible to feeling ill.

Take the right precautions

Travel also brings exposure to foreign threats such as dengue fever and malaria. These are very real and you must know about precautions which need to be taken in such areas. In the same way you should also ensure you have the right vaccines when traveling to a country where exposure to lesser known disease is higher.
Any Tropical Medical Bureau can advise you on these risks and any vaccines or medication you need to take with you. If overlooked, the symptoms can be irreversible and although there is sometimes significant cost related to vaccines in particular, these last for 5 – 10 years, not to mention how they you should consider their importance and not the cost.
Tip: Schedule a free consultation today.

Sleep, exercise and consume less

Aside from water, it’s always best to limit consumption on your travels. You should eat well of course and consume as many experiences as possible but for everything else, balance is vital. Sleep is also crucial for the above reason, you need it in order to stay fresh and 6 – 8 hours of sleep every night will certainly allow you to stay healthy while away from home.
And then there is exercise. While we travel away from home the one element of our lifestyle which is often neglected is exercise and this is often down to the excuse of “time”. You may not have a lot of it (time) but it is possibly the most important factor when it comes to staying healthy and none more so, than while you travel away from home.
Tip: Visit a local pay-as-you-go gym, take a 30 minute jog in the park or make a point of starting each day with 20 press ups/sit ups in your room.