The winter holidays are some of the most impacted days for travelers. With a bit of preparation both physically and mentally, a stress free holiday is within reach.
Here a few tips on how to arrive with energy and a bit more ease.
Tips for holiday drivers:
Here a few tips on how to arrive with energy and a bit more ease.
Tips for holiday drivers:
- Don’t wait till the last minute to get gas. Fuel up the day before you leave.
- Leave plenty of time to get to your destination – travel before 9am or after 7pm for less crowded roads.
- Be sure to bring enough water along for everyone. Don’t get overly thirsty or gulp. Sipping helps your body deal with stress better.
- Avoid over-caffeinated or super-sugared drinks – they may make it harder to handle stressful traffic or weather.
- Bring some healthy snacks in the car.
- Don’t push it. Pull over to rest when you need to and be sure to stand and stretch your back, neck and shoulders. Call if you’ll be delayed. Your hosts want you with them and not injured or worse.
- Use slow deep breaths to release stress and a bit of Drivetime Yoga to help avoid back, shoulder and neck pain from sitting. It’s fun for everyone in the car.
- Be easy with yourself and plan ahead.
- Avoid leaving packing, or getting your home and pets ready, to the last minute.
- Don’t skimp on cardio exercise in the days before going on a long flight. It will help your body deal with travel stress and long hours sitting.
- Avoid being overly hungry and then eating something you may regret later. Bring a baggie of nuts/dried fruit/dates and perhaps some cut veggies for quick snacks to hold you over till you have access to healthy food.
- Drink enough water and sniff a pinch every hour – airplanes have low humidity and oxygen.
- Getting up to use the bathroom will help you stretch out cramped muscles. Stretch in the aisle, as long as you’re not in anyone’s way. Try a few slow lunges, back bends, swivel your hips slowly and twist.
- Be wary of swollen ankles and feet. Do ankle rolls and toe-heel points.
- Avoid cold feet and wear compression socks for the flight.
- Feeling cramped? Do a few hip shifts and shoulder rolls. A little Flytime Yoga can go a long way.
About Elaine Masters: Dedicated to helping travelers get where they’re going feeling great, Elaine is a world wanderer and the Indie Excellence award-winning author of Drivetime Yoga and Flytime Yoga. Blog founder of Trip Wellness and host of Travel Well Meetups in San Diego, she also hosts the top ten podcast, The Gathering Road, on the Womens Radio Network.
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