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10 Energizing Tips for Holiday Travel

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is upon us. By the time Christmas and New Year’s rolls around, many of us are already experiencing holiday travel burnout. Less than a month ago, many of us were taking long-distant drives to Grandma’s house for Thanksgiving, and some of us were experiencing unforeseen plane delays during special visits to see family or friends around the globe. If you need a boost to get through the last leg of the holiday travel season, we have some energizing tips for you.

Healthy Travel Tips for Energy
To start, we must emphasize that you’ll want to stay nourished and hydrated during your travels. You’ll need the energy to get up early on Christmas morning for family fun or to stay up late for your friend’s New Year’s Eve party. Here are 10 energizing tips for travel:

1. Drink extra water (more than usual) to stay hydrated throughout your entire trip.
2. Bring bottled water and travel-friendly snacks like carrots or apple slices in your travel bag.
3. Pack a car cooler with pre-peeled hard-boiled eggs, cheese, or Greek yogurt for protein.
4. If flying, bring protein bars to appease your appetite in between meals.
5. Don’t skip meals. If possible, eat smaller meals throughout the day.
6. Practice portion-control to avoid that uncomfortable feeling of being overfull.
7. Avoid sodas, alcohol, fast food, and junk foods, which could deplete your energy.
8. Try to continue your regular exercise plan, and do frequent stretches throughout the day.
9. Maintain but don’t accelerate your regular caffeine intake. Avoid it within 4-6 hours of bedtime.
10. Take short naps (20-30 minutes) if needed and strive for at least 7 hours of sleep each night.

In addition to these tips, you may want to practice some relaxation techniques during your travels. We’ve told you several meditation techniques in the past, and the Internet is filled with quick, 10-minute guided meditations for positive energy.

For example, here is a quick breathing exercise that just takes minutes and can be done anywhere.

Simply sit in any chair with your feet flat on the ground.Use your thumb to block one side of your nostril, and then quickly exhale out of the opposite nostril. Take a natural breath inward, and then do the reverse nostril breathing outward. Continue alternating your nostrils for about a minute. Finally, inhale/exhale naturally with your eyes closed for one additional minute to feel the energizing sensation.

Whether you’ve planned a country Christmas in the Carolinas or a New Year’s adventure in New York City, we believe that maintaining a healthy lifestyle will help ensure you feel great during your trip and could help you avoid illnesses during this hectic season.

Happy holidays and have a healthy New Year! Be sure to tell us on Twitter or Facebook about your holiday adventures. Eat well, live long, and travel far!