Many of us have had to put off travel plans over the past year. But don’t lose hope! The pandemic can’t go on forever, and there are many things you can do to keep your immune system strong and minimize your risk of getting sick- both during your trip and when you get home.
Lack of sleep, overindulging at bars and restaurants, stressing about flight delays, and crossing multiple time zones… these are just a few of the ways travel can cause jet lag and take a toll on your immune system.
To make matters worse, airports, hotels, shops, and restaurants are breeding grounds for germs. That makes for a dangerous combination- not only during the current situation but also after the pandemic subsides.
Let’s take a look at several things you can do during and after travel to keep your immune system strong and your energy levels up while you’re on vacation and when you get home.
Table of Contents: Recovery After Travel: What You Need to Know
- Combat Fatigue and Boost Your Immune System at the Same Time
- Boost Your Energy Levels with Proper Hydration
- Replenish Lost Nutrients Fast with IV Vitamins
- Detox Your Diet to Combat Overindulgence
- Get Your Body Moving To Overcome Fatigue After Travel
- Make Sleep a Priority
- Shut Off Your Screens Before Bedtime
- Final Thoughts - Staying Healthy After Travel
Combat Fatigue and Boost Your Immune System at the Same Time
Sunlight is the body’s natural sleep regulator. When you’re outside during the day, your body naturally syncs your internal clock to its environment. So, exposing yourself to sunlight can help shift your circadian rhythm (biological sleep schedule) when it would otherwise think it was time for sleep.
Exposing yourself to bright light in the morning can help you wake up earlier, so consider sleeping with your blinds open or investing in an alarm clock that mimics sunlight. Or, if you’re feeling sleepy during the day, instead of laying down for a nap, head outside into the sunshine. And, if you need to stay awake late at night, turning on some bright lights can be helpful.
You can use sunlight to help your body adjust to time zone changes during and after your trip. Or, use it to combat fatigue when you get home. As an added bonus, sunlight boosts your vitamin D levels, which also strengthens your immune system to help you stay healthy and fight off any germs you might have been exposed to on your trip.
Boost Your Energy Levels with Proper Hydration
When you’ve been partying a little too hard or simply trying to do too much, drinking lots of water is your secret weapon for keeping your energy levels up while you’re on your trip and when you get back home. Drinking lots of water also helps to detoxify the body and keep germs from taking hold. It’s a much better solution than coffee, which can make jet lag and fatigue even worse by keeping you awake at night.
Replenish Lost Nutrients Fast with IV Vitamins
Between the lack of sleep, overindulgence in food and alcohol, and the stress of being away from home, we use up a lot of our nutrient stores when we travel. The balance of minerals, vitamins, and hydration in our bodies has a huge impact on our energy levels and how we feel overall, so replenishing lost nutrients is crucial for providing your body with the raw materials it needs to heal itself.
A custom IV cocktail at an IV drip clinic with vitamins and minerals tailored for recovery can help you bounce back more quickly and prevent illness. Not only will it give your body a boost of welcome fluids, but it will also deliver B vitamins, vitamin C, zinc, magnesium, glutathione, amino acids, and other key nutrients right to your bloodstream where they can work fast and do the most good.
Detox Your Diet to Combat Overindulgence
One of the best things about being on vacation is indulging in tasty drinks and yummy food. But eating your weight in pasta and seafood can leave you feeling bloated and tired, not to mention cause you to pack on a pound or two. Try to balance it out by including at least one healthy, nutritious meal each day while you’re on your trip.
Once you get home, get serious about detoxing your diet from all those carbs, sugar, and alcohol. Focus on eating tons of fresh greens, fruits, and colourful veggies to flush out toxins and fight inflammation. And be sure to get plenty of lean protein and healthy fats for energy and recovery. This will help you- and your immune system- get back to feeling normal as quickly as possible.
Get Your Body Moving To Overcome Fatigue After Travel
There’s no better way to overcome lethargy and fatigue than exercise. Get your body moving by doing whatever activities you love, while you’re on vacation and when you get home. Walking, jogging, biking, and swimming are all great choices because they’ll get you outdoors in the sunshine and fresh air, too.
Yoga is also a great way to overcome jet lag and fatigue and get you feeling back to normal as quickly as possible. It can help you reclaim the calmness in your body and mind that often disappears with the stress and lack of routine during travel. It’s great for boosting the mood, invigorating the body, and releasing tension too.
A little exercise will have you ready to conquer all the things that have been on hold while you’ve been away, thanks to those amazing feel-good endorphins it releases in your body!
Make Sleep a Priority
All too often, sleep takes a back seat to work, errands, family, and our social life. But, lack of sleep will only prolong your feelings of moodiness, exhaustion, and burnout after your trip. It will also take a major toll on your immune system and leave you more vulnerable to illness.
Making sleep a priority when you’re on vacation and when you get home can be like a magical cure for jet lag. It will also help your immune system recover quickly, so you don’t get sick after being exposed to all those germs.
Shut Off Your Screens Before Bedtime
Many of us have the habit of reaching for our cell phones or some other device when we crawl into bed. But, when you’re ready to shut down your brain for the night, it’s time to shut down those screens too. Flipping through emails and social media stimulates the brain and makes it hard for you to relax and fall asleep… and the longer you stay awake, the less REM sleep you’ll get.
Not only that but the blue light your devices emit also restrains the production of melatonin, which is the hormone that controls your circadian rhythm. That makes it harder for you to fall asleep and harder for you to wake up in the morning. Ditching your devices before bedtime is a smart practice, even when you haven’t been travelling!
Final Thoughts - Staying Healthy After Travel
One final piece of advice. There are always a million things to get done when you come home from a trip. But travelling takes a toll on your body and you’ve likely been exposed to a variety of nasty germs. You need to nurture your body by taking care of yourself, eating well, and getting some extra sleep. Self-care is crucial for your body’s recovery and preventing illnesses like COVID-19, so it should be your first priority. Everything else will get done in due time.
