Hitting the Road? 5 Tips to Maintain Your Health While on a Road Trip

The weather is heating up, trees are greener, flowers are blooming, and the sun is shining. After a long winter, it is time for a much-needed vacation. A road trip perhaps? Long hours sitting in the car and unlimited access to unhealthy fast foods may not appear as the best environment for someone with a healthy lifestyle. However, maintaining a healthy lifestyle includes planning and making active choices that align with your health and fitness goals. The road trip environment might be challenging, but with the right plan and mindset, it is manageable. Here are our 5 tips to maintain your health while on a road trip.  

1. Pack Snacks: Relying on the road for food is a temptation oasis for unhealthy choices. From the endless amount of chips and candy at convenience stores to the calorie-filled options at fast food restaurants, it is hard to sustain your health goals. Instead, plan out your snacks and grocery shop accordingly before your trip. Make sure to prep anything you need to the night before. On the day of the road trip pack a container and a cooler filled with healthy snacks, so it will be less tempting to stop on the way to your destination. A bonus benefit of prepping your snacks is generally grocery shopping is significantly cheaper than eating out.   
2. Hydrate: Hydration is important, especially with the hot temperatures during the spring and summer months. Dehydration can cause you to feel tired, lightheaded, and thirsty. All these symptoms can cause you to feel poorly, especially if you suffer from motion sensitivity also known as motion sickness. Moreover, these symptoms can be dangerous if you are the driver on a road trip.
3. Stretch! Just because you are in a car for hours on end does not mean you can stop exercising. There are simple ways you can include movement throughout your day even when you are in the car. You can perform simple stretches with your arms and torso such as crossing one arm over your chest, putting your arm behind your back to touch the opposite shoulder blade, or bringing your arm overhead to touch the opposite shoulder blade. Increase the stretch of any of these exercises by applying pressure with your opposite hand by either pulling on the hand or pushing at the elbow.
4. Distraction Techniques for Bathroom Urges: If you maintain proper hydration, then you will feel the urge to go to the bathroom. However, on a road trip, you do not have consistent access to a bathroom. When you have the urge to pee, try to perform distraction techniques especially if you do not have immediate access to a bathroom. You can try to perform 5-10 Kegels, deep breathing, or visualize a favorite memory. Of course, if you need to urinate persists then use the bathroom as soon as possible.
5. Relax: A road trip is a perfect time to unplug and unwind. Take this moment away from work and the stresses of the outside world. Try meditation, practice deep breathing, or read a book. Kick back and relax as this is your time to vacation.  

Vacation is not a time to lose track of your health and wellness goals. Use your free time to maintain your healthy lifestyle and show yourself you can be successful in not so ideal environment. If you need help on your fitness and wellness journey, our staff at Live Your Life would love to help! Click here to learn about the services at Live Your Life and to contact us for a free consultation.