A vacation is pretty much synonymous to relaxation as well as indulgence. For many of us, it’s that rare chance in the year when we can leave all our cares behind, avoid the more arduous activities and possibly indulge in things we can’t always have in our daily lives—like heaping piles of food, perhaps.
Just because you’re on vacation, however, it’s no excuse to overlook your health. After all, you wouldn’t want to return from your dream vacation needing another vacation, or worse, nursing a debilitating virus. Here are a few very simple, tried and tested things you can do to stay healthy yet still enjoy your vacation.
Drink plenty of water. It’s easy to neglect drinking water when all those yummy drinks are an order away. The problem with these drinks is they’re so delicious and refreshing that you’ll end up having more than your fair share without noticing the stacking calories. Drinking healthy amounts of water while on vacation is a great way to offset your calorie gain as well as maintain the balance of your body fluids and stay hydrated (few are as dehydrating as that alcohol in your cocktails!). Best of all, drinking water is one of the easiest ways to reenergize.
Stay active. Take some time whether at the start of your day or at the end of it to squeeze in a quick cardio. Many hotels and resorts have a gym onsite with facilities at the guests’ disposal. With all that good food you’ll be sampling—some of them not as healthy as we’d like them to be, it’s easy to gain a bit of weight during your vacation. It only makes sense to balance that out with a little bit of workout and burn those extra calories from that 14oz steak or that large piece of chocolate cake you ordered the night before. And like water, it’s also energizing and a fantastic way to start the day!
Keep a balanced diet. Sure, you don’t get to indulge in amazing steak or lobster every day. It’s more than ok to treat yourself to those hearty lunches and dinners as well as those fruity cocktails. But at the end of the day, it’s still important to eat your fruits and veggies, and control your portions. A good way to keep a balanced diet is to start your meal with the healthier stuff and then leave some room for that hunk of meat or pasta dish you’ve been dreaming about. This way, you can enjoy the “good” stuff without overindulging.
Get plenty of sleep. It’s easy to lose track of time especially when you’re having so much fun or when you’ve got a lot of catching up to do with relatives you’re traveling with. Just make sure you don’t do it every night. A vacation is the perfect opportunity to rest and catch up on much needed sleep. Go to bed early, sleep in or even squeeze in siestas—traveler’s choice. Just make sure you get more than enough shuteye so you can start your days and end your vacation well rested.
Do some yoga. Aches and pains are normal when your itinerary is imbued with activities or when you’re participating in more strenuous endeavors like hiking, kayaking/paddle boarding and snorkeling. A fantastic trick to shoo the soreness away is to do some post-activity stretching, or better yet, an energizing yoga sequence. Yoga workouts are a quick and effective way to get rid of most of the soreness. They’re also a lovely way to reboot your body, getting it ready for another day of fun. There are many videos on YouTube that will guide you through a 20 to 30 minute workout; and some hotels offer yoga classes as well.
Squeeze in a massage. A spa treatment may be the best pampering you can give yourself, so shell out a bit of cash and treat yourself to an amazing massage. You’ll come out a more relaxed and happier you. Many hotels and resorts have their own spa onsite, and a combination of a full-body massage and aromatherapy is probably the yummiest and most satisfying. Before or after your treatment, take advantage of the spa facilities. There’s nothing like a good soak in a hot water plunge pool, or a few minutes under a glorious rain shower. Lastly, try to find a spa where they offer treatments right on the beach; the sounds of the waves will make the experience even more soothing.
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