Healthy Travel Tips: Pandemic Protection for the Holiday Season

2020 has been a year of change, and for many of us, adjusting to this “new normal” has been challenging. Take travel, for example. When’s the last time you’ve taken public transportation, hopped in your car for a long road trip, or boarded a plane? 

For many of us, it’s been months. However, as things slowly return to “normal,” many are feeling braver and considering holiday travel. 

Pre-Trip Preparations

Whether you’re headed to the airport or packing the car, we have some healthy travel tips that can help: 

Boost Your Immunity

• Vitamins: Our bodies need vitamins and minerals to function properly, but we don’t always make the healthiest food choices while traveling. Taking high-quality supplements, including vitamin C, is an excellent way to ensure you’re getting essential nutrients.
  
  
• Probiotics: Gut health refers to the complex ecosystem of bacteria found in the digestive system. It’s critical for maintaining overall health and preventing disease. Lack of sleep, excess alcohol, environmental stress, and a lack of prebiotics can contribute to bad gut health. Drink plenty of water, eat high-fiber foods, and incorporate probiotics and fermented foods, like yogurt and sauerkraut, into your diet. If you’ve been struggling in this area, check out the Epic Gut Cleanse — a free program designed to remove toxins and balance the body.
  

On the Road or in the Air

You’ve packed those vitamins, popped a probiotic, and gotten the flu shot. Here are a few other healthy travel tips to consider:  

• Bring a Mask: Cloth, medical, N95 — take your pick! As long as you cover your mouth and nose, you’re protecting yourself from airborne viruses like COVID-19 and keeping other travelers safe too. All airline passengers are required to wear masks. If you’re driving, you’ll be able to breathe freely inside the car, but it’s important to keep a mask handy when stopping for food or fuel.
  
  
• Stockpile Sanitizer: Gels, sprays, or antibacterial wipes: there are plenty of options for hand sanitizers, so pack plenty! Experts recommend products containing at least 60% alcohol. If you’re flying, sanitizing wipes are an easy way to wipe down your tray tables, armrests, and window shades. In the car, sanitize the steering wheel, console, and any other high-touch areas.
  
  
• Hands Off: Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and then don’t.touch.anything. Okay, that’s a little dramatic, but clean hands are essential for preventing disease. Scrub away before and after you eat, and don’t touch your face! If you have to scratch your nose or rub your eyes, keep a pack of tissues nearby. The coronavirus can penetrate the mucous membranes around the eyes, nose, and mouth. It’s a hard habit to break, but not touching your face will keep you healthier in the long run. 

Stay Hydrated

This list would be incomplete if we didn’t remind you to drink more water! Hydration is essential to good health. It helps with digestion, improves energy, prevents certain illnesses, and can even improve the look of your skin. Keep a reusable water bottle in the car, or your carry-on bag and drink up! If you find plain water a little boring, grab a bottle of sparkling water.

Keep Moving 

The holidays are a great time to relax and indulge, but everything in moderation, right? Enjoy those extra cookies or a glass of wine, but make sure you incorporate some movement into your day. Regular exercise helps maintain body weight, reduces your risk of disease, and improves your mood. Take a brisk walk, lace up your sneakers and go for a post-meal run, take an online yoga class, or hit the local gym and lift weights (socially-distanced, or course.) Daily movement supports the body and mind. 

BUT-Don’t Forget to Relax

Holiday travel can be stressful, so it’s important to take the time for something called “active-relaxation.” Meditate for 10 minutes, run a hot bath, add some Epsom salts, or spend a half-hour reading a good book. It’s important to make time for self-care!   

Looking for more ways to improve your health? EpicLuv is available to help! Check out our 22-Day Epic Self Care Program and start taking control of your physical, mental, and spiritual health today. 

With EpicLuv,
Melissa

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