By Rachel McLeod
While it's easy to get lost in the fun of travelling and get swept away by the places you are visiting and the things you are doing, it is crucial that you keep your health in mind. There are several things to think about in order to stay healthy when you're away from home: food, cleanliness, sleep, and for some people exercise.
1. Food. This is one of the most important things to be mindful of when you're in a new country. All countries have different ways of cooking, not to mention completely new foods. And, depending on where you are, the water quality may not be what you are used to.
One thing I've learned is that the vegetarian options are almost always safer, either because the meat option is an unspecified meat or because the meat isn't always cooked properly.
Another issue in a lot of places is water. When you're in an unfamiliar country it's best to always stick to bottled water. If the quality of water where you are visiting is less than the water from your home, you can get incredibly sick. Of course it's good to try new foods when you're in a new place, but you still need to be very careful because you don't want to spend your trip being sick.
2. Sleep. Getting enough sleep is vital to having a good travel experience. If you don't get enough sleep, then you will likely be too tired to truly enjoy your days out. Of course going out and experiencing the night life is always fun, but it's probably not something you should do every night, if you want to be able to explore and do other activities during the day.
3. Cleanliness. The last thing you want when you are traveling is to get sick. Washing your hands should become a way of life.
Personally, I absolutely do not go anywhere without my hand sanitizer. It's not the same as soap, but sometimes it's the best option if there's nowhere to actually wash your hands. It's important to stay clean in all aspects, traveling in itself is dirty: buses, planes, taxis...these are all used by countless people, and very rarely, if ever in some cases, are these cleaned.
4. Exercise. This may not be important for everyone, but for some exercise is a way to maintain sleeping and eating schedules.
For me, the routine of going to the gym or to the track reminds me of home and keeps me healthy and feeling good. Especially, if you are on a long-term trip, doing a little bit of exercise daily could benefit your health and is always a great way to start the day!
To keep up with Rachel’s journey, follow her on Instagram, @rachellmcleod.