How to keep your Energy and Comfort Levels High While Travelling
Travelling can be tiring and uncomfortable, but simple routines can help you feel energised and comfortable throughout your journey. Whether you’re going on long flights, train journeys, or active holidays, small preparations and mindful habits make trips more enjoyable and less stressful. The key is in maintaining your body’s natural rhythms while adapting to new environments and travel constraints.
-
Stay Hydrated and Eat Smart
Proper hydration is the foundation of comfortable travel. The Health Service Executive (HSE) emphasises the importance of adequate fluid intake for maintaining optimal health, and this becomes even more important during travel when cabin pressure and climate changes can accelerate dehydration. The HSE’s Healthy Eating Active Living programme highlights proper nutrition and hydration as cornerstones of wellbeing. Choose water over caffeinated or alcoholic beverages, which can contribute to dehydration. Smart food choices also play a very important role in maintaining energy levels. Fresh fruit, nuts, and protein bars give you sustained energy without causing digestive discomfort that can make travel more challenging.
-
Move Regularly
Extended periods of sitting during travel can lead to muscle stiffness, poor circulation, and fatigue. Regular movement is essential for preventing these issues and maintaining comfort throughout your journey. Simple exercises like ankle circles, calf raises, and neck stretches can be performed even in confined spaces. When possible, take walks down train aisles or through airport terminals. Recent research shows that only 34% of adults aged 55-65 meet National Physical Activity Guidelines, making movement during travel particularly important for maintaining overall health at all ages. Movement helps improve circulation and prevents stiffness, making you feel more energised upon arrival at your destination.
-
Protect Your Eyes and Vision
Travel often involves exposure to bright sunlight, dry air, and extended screen time, all of which can strain your eyes and contribute to fatigue. Quality sunglasses provide essential protection from UV rays and glare, whilst regular screen breaks help prevent digital eye strain. For those who wear glasses, contact lenses offer practical advantages during travel, eliminating concerns about losing or damaging spectacles whilst providing clear, unobstructed vision for all activities.
-
Plan for Comfort
Thoughtful preparation improves travel comfort. Comfortable, breathable clothing allows for better temperature regulation and easier movement. Essential items like travel pillows, hand sanitiser, and a small comfort kit guarantee that you’re prepared for various situations. Organising these items in an easily accessible manner lowers stress and helps maintain a sense of control during your journey.
Maintaining hydration, movement, and comfort habits leads to a more enjoyable travel experience. Planning ahead and preparing your essentials, including making sure that your vision needs are properly addressed, can make a tangible difference to how you feel throughout your travels.
