It’s the season for travel, and we’re looking forward to fun, sun, and adventure! Still, most of us have experienced the dreaded vacation hangover at one point or another, and some people even find themselves sick by the end of every trip. (Have you ever found yourself saying you need a vacation after your vacation? Because we have.)

As exciting as it is to get away, the unfortunate truth is that traveling can interrupt your regular wellness routine and overwhelm your immune system if you’re not prepared.

We aren’t looking to skip out on any family vacations, so we’ve compiled five golden rules for protecting your health while you’re away from home. Healthy travels!

Looking for a clean, easy way to fight germs on the road? Check out our pocket-sized Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer!

1. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!

Let’s start with the basics. We know that hydration is one of the most critical components of health. When we get lazy with our water intake or get so preoccupied we forget, we feel it. We also know that as challenging as it can be to stay hydrated at home, it’s ten times harder while traveling. If you’ve ever spent the duration of a trip or vacation with an irritating, lingering headache, you know what we’re talking about. And if your trip includes a lot of walking or physical activity (as many do, especially when kids are involved), staying hydrated is even more essential.

Here are a few easy ways to keep up with your water intake no matter where you are:

• Pack your own drinking water in reusable canteens or bottles
• Refill your containers at your lodgings before you head out for the day 
• Drink a full glass of water when you wake up in the morning and before you go to bed
• Drink one glass of water for every non-water drink you consume

2. Prep Your Body Ahead of Time

Travel can be therapeutic, but it can also take a lot out of you. You may think feeling burnt out is an indicator that you need a vacation (and it is), but if you wait until you’re exhausted to get away, the odds are good you’ll be even more tired when you get home. Remember: An exhausted body is a vulnerable body.

So, while you’re making your travel plans, start prepping your body! Make sure you’re keeping up with your vitamins and supplements (especially Vitamin C) and eating a balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables. Prioritize consistent, high-quality sleep, and get at least thirty minutes of physical movement each day to boost your immune system and mood. You can also take preventative measures like consuming activated charcoal to fight off toxins while you’re traveling.

3. (Meal) Plan Ahead!

Vacations require a lot of planning, and planning your meals is one of the best ways to support your body in a new environment (and to save money!)

It’s easy to take off work, pack up the car, and leave our routines in the rearview mirror. It’s vacation, after all! However, after a few ‘cheat’ meals or one too many sugary treats, our ‘regular’ diet starts to seem a little more appealing.

Start by counting out the number of meals you’ll be eating throughout the trip (don’t forget snacks!) Then you can decide how many meals to make or cook a few favorites in bulk. Meal prep may not fit your idea of fun vacation planning, but you’ll be grateful when you have a cooler full of pre-prepared staple meals to fall back on. It’s also important to remember that meal planning doesn’t mean you have to eat ‘boring’ food all vacation long. Just factor in which meals you want to eat out and enjoy!

4. If You Wouldn’t Do It at Home, Don’t Do It On Vacation

Don’t worry; we aren’t talking about scuba diving or walking on the beach. Like meal planning, this rule comes from our tendency to throw our routines out the window the minute we hit the road. But remember, we have rituals for a reason. They’re good for us!

So while we support taking it easy during a holiday, it’s critical not to disrupt our bodies’ rhythms too drastically. Over-eating, consuming large amounts of fried, processed, or sugary foods, and settling for poor or little sleep are all common mistakes that leave travelers feeling sick and exhausted. If you stay on top of the fundamentals, your time away is guaranteed to be all the enjoyable for it.

5. Keep Stress at a Minimum

Relaxing on vacation may seem like a given, but we’ve all experienced a ‘getaway’ that felt more like work than play. From organizing family members to navigating transportation, your dedicated relaxation time can quickly become overwhelming if you aren’t careful.

Here are a few of our favorite methods for keeping things fun and stress-free!

• Plan enough that you feel organized and at ease but not so much that you feel bound by an itinerary.
• Pack light! Pack for your planned activities and things you’re likely to do, but don’t weigh yourself down with unnecessary clutter.
• Leave work at work. You’re on vacation! Don’t spend your precious free time scanning emails that can wait.
• Be flexible. Plans change, and that’s ok! Sometimes the unexpected experiences end up being the most memorable.

Take Your Essentials With You

Keyword: Essentials. Don’t pack your whole house! Do pack the daily must-haves that you can’t get away from home; this includes things like supplements, medications, and oral care. (Bonus points if your oral care actually improves your teeth and comes in Travel Size!) There are other items that you can get on the road, on a plane, or at your hotel but that you’d probably rather avoid. Many of these locations and services offer complimentary soap, skincare, and haircare. Still, more often than not, those products are filled with chemicals and wrapped up in wasteful (potentially toxic) plastic packaging. No, thank you!

At Wellnesse, we design our products with your standards in mind. Your health and needs are our priority, and our formulas reflect that. Wellnesse products contain the cleanest, strongest, most effective natural ingredients, making them like food for your hair, skin, and mouth. Even better, our complete collection contains personal care essentials for the entire family! With Wellnesse at your side, how could you not have the trip of a lifetime?