​10 Easy Ways to Work Wellness Into Your Travels

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To say that I travel a lot would be overstating the fact because I don’t travel as much as some consultants or other frequent travel folks. But I do travel at least once a month either on a longer duration work trip or sometimes a short road trip and I am always seeking ways to work wellness into my travels. With the assistance of the Wellness Tourism Association, here are a few easy ways to try and work wellness into your travels so you don’t feel like you need a vacation from each of your trips!

When traveling for business or pleasure, here are ten ways to easily incorporate wellness into your daily routine:

1. When it comes to food and beverage, make healthy choices.
Just because you are “on the road” is no excuse to over-indulge. I try to choose one meal a day which is my ‘splurge’ meal and I can indulge a little bit more so I don’t feel like I am not enjoying the local offerings at all.

2. Take advantage of any yoga or fitness classes your hotel or resort may be offering. Understandably these might not always suit your schedule but nothing stops you from doing your own stretches or finding an accountability partner to join you for a short brisk walk wherever you are.

3. Plan to take a guided or self-guided walking or running tour of the destination. Walking is the best way to experience
a new destination and you can break it into multiple shorter sessions instead of one hour long walk if your schedule doesn’t permit that much time for an activity.

4. Spend time in nature. Whether it is a mindful walk along the beach, hiking, kayaking, or a simple stroll in a quiet section 
of a city park – nature and wellness go hand-in-hand. Especially with how much time we spend indoors these days on our computers, a little outdoor time is something your body and mind will welcome.

5. Learn something new. Take an art or healthy cooking class. Immerse yourself in the destination and learn about the culture. Even if it’s a location that isn’t another country, a class where you have to participate is a nice detour and a welcome activity to learn something new and feel energized or inspired.

6. Book a stress-reducing massage or other relaxing spa treatment. Your body will thank you for the TLC you show it. We forget to take care of our bodies but we put so much pressure on them in our daily activities, walking and driving, typing and sitting, carrying heavy bags – slow down and enjoy some spa time.

7. Sleep well. Make sure your accommodations offer a quiet environment, conducive to sleep. Many hotels and resorts now offer designated ‘quiet floors’ and even ‘quiet hours’ so as to not experience any major sound disturbances. Failing that, make sure to mention at time of booking that you prefer a room in a quiet location. 

8. Give back. Find a way to ‘give back’ to the community you are visiting. Again, time might not always be on your side and your schedule might not permit it but if this is an option and there is some way that the resort you are staying at allows you to contribute then give it a shot. Giving back can be immensely rewarding.

9. Allow yourself time to relax. To think your own thoughts. Time for self-reflection. Time to simply BE. Allot some time in the day, whatever works for you, to give you some peace of mind. We have so much going on around us all the time, so some quiet time is good. Additionally, try journaling during that time if you can,

10. Stay calm. Travel is stressful at the best of times, so learn to stay calm, don’t stress the small stuff and simply enjoy the journey. A lot can go wrong during travel and a lot of it is usually something you cannot control so let go, tomorrow will be a different day and this little snafu wont really matter anymore.

Loved these pointers? How about taking it a step further and actually going away on a little wellness vacation?You could win a $2,000 gift certificate toward your next Wellness Vacation. Just fill out this survey from the Wellness Tourism Association for a chance to win.  

*Assistance for copy and images provided by Wellness Tourism Association*