My 12 Tips for Traveling + Staying in Routine
Hello hello, and happy #wellnesswednesday.
Coming to you from San Ant, Texas, I forgot how much I love to travel. Even though my first flight didn’t connect to my second one in time, I still missed traveling. I haven’t gone anywhere since New York in October, and I forgot how much I loved to be squeezed in between and meet new strangers - or not talk to anyone at all.
Growing up half Chinese in a small town, I think that I find peace in being surrounded by people that are different than what I am normally surrounded by. People of all ethnicities, careers, hair colors, and clothing choices. From singers and producers to accidentally running into the man who started Bulletproof coffee.
The different people we meet help us to grow and expand our mindset. Whether you grew up in a small town or a large one, it’s really important that you be surrounded by people that are different than you so that you remember you’re not the only type of person in this world.
I thought for this #wellnesswednesday I would share with you my top travel tips that make traveling a bit easier for me. Most travel blogs say things like “drink water” and “use the eye mask”, which are great, but can be generic. I’m pretty type A and prioritize my self care and wellness, so I’m happy to write down what works for me. ENJOY.
____________My top 12 travel tips ____________
Pick flights that are during the day so that you don’t disrupt your sleep schedule. There is nothing worse than getting up at 3 AM when you don’t have to and it makes for the LONGEST travel days. Try to schedule flights during hours you would already be working if you can in order to disrupt your routine a bit less.
Pack snacks. Most domestic flights do not make you throw anything away. I pack fruit, muffins, nuts, etc. Hell, I’ve packed full avocados with plastic to-go knives, Siete chips, and cooked boiled eggs. Not only does it make me feel better to eat things I normally would (and know where it’s coming from), I also save a ton of money doing this. Of course, bring your own water container if you can.
Plan when you work and when you don’t. During a flight you have several choices as to how you can spend your time. I try to work on the first flight or during layovers, then listen to music/read on the second one, or align it to my regular work schedule the best I can.
Walk, walk, walk. I walk everywhere; sometimes in circles in the terminals. Walking helps with decreasing inflammation in my legs from sitting on planes most of the day, and just makes me feel better in general to have some light movement during a day of travel.
WATER. Like 3x as much as you normally would. However, try to plan it out so you don’t have pee 4x during one flight. I like to drink a TON of water to start my day then gradually decrease throughout the duration of my travel, or end the day of travel with a ton of water. Just stay hydrated.
Not that I’m a heavy makeup person, but often when I travel I use it as a time to wear NO makeup at all. I also sometimes bring face wipes and just wipe my face throughout the day in between flights (especially when it was mask season).
Download everything that you want to listen to: playlists, podcasts, etc. It’s the WORST when you go to listen to something only to realize that you didn’t download it and you have no service.
Most obviously, just have your license and boarding passes ready, and always pick clothing articles that are easy to take off and on (shoes, jackets, etc. - don’t think I meant anything else by that…)
Don’t pack the morning of like I normally do….
To the unmarried ladies, wear a ring on your finger if you don’t want men to bother you.
Legs. Up. The. Wall. Sometimes I do this on the ground at the airport (I have no shame) or almost as soon as I can when I get to the hotel. It just helps with inflammation in my legs from walking all day and from being at such a high elevation.
Don’t stress. Really. There is this stigma around airports and flights and trains that always make us feel like we’re in a rush. When traveling, you really are at the mercy of the flights, pilots, and other people. Even if you’re layover is 10 minutes and your flight is 20 minutes behind and you’re going to likely miss it (me yesterday), there is NO point in sitting on the plane being rude to others, being overwhelmed or agitated, and ramping up our nervous system. No point at all. You’ll get there when you get there, just do the best you can. If it’s not your fault, they’ll reschedule your things. If it was your fault, you’ll be better prepared next time.
The main takeaways are to stay in routine as much as possible, including moving your body, eating well, and sleeping plenty if you can. I hope this inspires you to travel, see new things, be surrounded by those that aren’t like you, and remember to take deep breaths, especially around things you cannot control.
XX
Things I listened to during my travel yesterday:
Taylor Swift’s album because I’m having serious FOMO from all the people being at her Midnights concert
Fasting and Nutrition (love Dr. Valter Longo)