There is no doubt that as every year passes, there are two paradoxical effects that travelling has on me:
- I enjoy travelling more. I like to think this is because I gain wisdom as I age and have a deeper appreciation for the wonders the world has to offer.
- I find it harder on my body. This is probably a natural function of aging, but I find I need to have more and better measures in place to make sure I don’t return from a trip looking and feeling like Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones.
This reality has encouraged me to put some protocols in place, and I’ve been thinking a bit more seriously about this lately to ponder my next trip (whenever than might happen).
I think of any trip in two distinct phases as they relate to staying healthy. The first one is the flights – particularly if it requires going overseas. Over the course of the last 30 years, flying has become increasingly cheap, and that has occurred at the expense of comfort and service. There’s no point in fighting this reality, but here is my updated list of things I intend to do on my next flight:
- Have a face mask that is comfortable and fits well. Somehow face masks have become a political issue for us. However, on airplanes it will simply be a requirement until further notice. The airlines will provide face masks to those that don’t have them, and insist they be worn. I’m not going to trust the airline to provide a well-fitting and comfortable mask.
- Bring my own water, and lots of it, if it’s a longer flight.
- Bring my own snacks for the plane. I’ve been doing this for a while, and it saves me from having to ingest the semi-edible “food” that our air carriers provide.
- Fly in Premium Economy whenever possible. Business class for overseas flights are really expensive, and generally out of reach for most of us unless we’re flying on points. Premium Economy is normally an extra $500 to $1000 on a trans-continental flight. More money to be sure, but perhaps worth the extra cost.
- Ear Plugs – I can’t sleep on airplanes, but those who can should take ear plugs and an eye-mask to assist the cause.
- Sanitizing wipes will be helpful on planes, even though with the new disinfecting protocols, there won’t be many places on the planet cleaner than an airplane.
The second phase of the trip is when you arrive at the destination (or return home). If I am travelling within North America, I am less likely to do all the things I’ve listed below, but certainly if I’m going to another continent, then I will do many, if not all of these things:
- Drink lots of water. If I’m going somewhere with questionable water quality, I take a travel-sized charcoal water filter to make sure I can safely drink lots of tap water.
- Rehydrating salts. These are available at any pharmacy, and they are used to replace electrolytes. If you end up becoming ill, and it involves vomiting or diarrhea, these will help you feel better instantly. I use them proactively for the first day or two after a long flight (when it’s really easy to get dehydrated).
- Ear plugs – The first couple of nights sleep in a new time zone are critical and using ear plugs to block out hotel or city noise can be a big help.
- Short naps – while I adjust to the time zone. It can sometimes be difficult to get up after only an hour or so, but it works well if you can. There are smart phone apps that can help you adjust to a new time zone. One example is Timeshifter.
- At least one ‘down’ day prior to boarding a ship. I want to enjoy everything my cruise has to offer, and I don’t want to sleep through my first day or two on the ship, so I go at least a day early to adjust to the time zone.
- Adjust to the destination time zone before leaving home. The theory is you adjust gradually prior to departure. I’ve never been able to get this to work very well, but others swear by it. Again… there are apps that can help with this.
- Use melatonin. This is the hormone that induces sleep. Some people use this at bedtime for the first few days they’re in a new time zone.
- A box of KIND bars. I take a box of 12 of these with me now whenever I travel. I like them because they are compact, they have all-natural ingredients, and they provide a nice small snack as I adjust my body to new mealtimes in a different time zone.
- Take the stairs. Whether I’m on a ship, or in a hotel, I try to use the stairs rather than the lifts wherever possible. It’s an easy way to get some moderate exercise.
- Walk as much as possible. With the exception of New York, and a few other places in the US, our cities are not designed for walking. The rest of the world is different than that, and my default mode of transport is by foot. I’ll use taxis, trains, and busses only after I’ve ruled out walking.
- Eat like a rabbit at lunch. This is a great habit, particularly when I’m aboard a ship. One of the highlights of a river cruise or small ocean ship is the incredible food, and a highlight I want to take advantage of. I find if I eat a whole bunch of vegetables, salad, and healthy proteins at lunch, that I can lose my mind at dinner and enjoy all that is on offer.
- Eat fish at least every other night. The red meats are delicious, but they are also very heavy compared to fish.
- Eat at vegetarian restaurants when on shore. These are usually easy to find, and even though I’m not vegetarian, I find the food very tasty.
- Stretching – I have a routine I do for about 20 minutes every day that could be loosely described as “yoga”, but I find it really helps, particularly after a long flight.
- Practice moderation until you’ve fully adjusted. I enjoy a glass of wine as much as the next person, but when one glass turns into three, and you’re still adjusting, it might not turn out well. Wait until day three or four before you close down the bar.
- Downtime – River cruises in particular can be very busy (this is a good thing) but try to find 30 minutes in the afternoon where you can just lie down and relax for a while. Even if you don’t sleep, it’s just a good chance to rejuvenate.
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Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
