Travel and Health, Part 4: Keeping Out the Toxins No Matter Where You Are
Note: This is the fourth and final article in a series on travel and health. Click here for Part 3.
Sometimes we find ourselves feeling sick while traveling, and we can't figure out what happened.
We've been taking our vitamin C, eating well, sleeping plenty, and managing to get at least some fresh air and movement each day. One area that we often overlook is what we are being exposed to in our environment.
This could include:
Air quality
Noise level
Energies and attitudes of those around us
Cleaning products
Fragrances of others
Personal care products we aren't used to using (someone else's soap, shampoo, lotion, etc.)
When we travel, sometimes we are staying with friends or family. Those folks have a different lifestyle, and that will include differences in any of the things in the above list. Here are 3 tips I have to offer you to help keep out toxins that your body may not be used to:
1. Consider staying elsewhere.
This could mean not with friends or family, or not at the same hotel where everyone is staying at the conference. Are you an introvert? Maybe you'd prefer to have a campsite instead of the conference center to retreat to at the end of the day. Or perhaps your relatives live in a big city and you'd prefer a rural area. Or vice versa -- some folks thrive from the sights and smells of lots going on, and feel lonely with nothing else around. Figure out what you need, and don't be afraid to make sure you get it. An easy explanation to those who might be wondering why you aren't with the rest of the group? Simply let them know that you thrive best with your own space.
If you do have the chance to book your own lodgings and have options, consider choosing a place that has natural light as well as access to the outdoors. Fresh air can go a long way towards helping you rejuvenate at the end of a long day when you're away from home.
2. Pack ear plugs and an eye mask.
No matter where you end up, you cannot control the environment around you. You can, however, control your ability to cope with it. These two things can help. I'd also recommend some recordings that are calming. Maybe some guided mediations or yoga nidra resources can assist. There are also white noise apps. Maybe you'll have the opportunity to find lodgings that are perfectly peaceful and quiet and you won't need any of these. However, at least you'll be prepared if you do.
3. Provide your own products.
I can't emphasize this enough. If you are used to using the soap you know agrees with your skin and you end up using what your relative or hotel provides, you could find yourself with all kinds of health issues, either immediately or delayed. This goes for laundry detergent as well. It's easy enough to put your trusted products in travel-friendly containers to take with you. You can either buy your own travel containers and fill them yourself, or you can buy pre-made travel-sized versions. Click here to find out why what we put on our bodies matters.
Just remember that you are in charge of your own health. Sometimes people are afraid to ask for what they want and what they know is right for them. We may have been taught by our society that we are supposed to be polite, accept what we are given with gratitude, and not make waves. When it comes to your body though, we have to take a stand and make sure we have what we need. You can do this!
Do you have other ideas for how to keep your environment safe and healthy while traveling? Let me know in the comments.