Thrive During Long Road Trips With These 7 Wellness Tips

While they can be fun, road trips can also drain your energy and make you feel sluggish once you arrive. Vacations are supposed to be full of enthusiasm and energy, so how can you thrive on long road trips? Careful planning and mindfulness can drastically impact your time on the road. Here are seven wellness tips to make your next journey easier.

1. Map Your Route

Wellness starts before you hit the road. These journeys can include a full day of driving, so plan your route and where you’ll stop. Knowing the location of your hotels, restaurants, and attractions provides peace of mind and organization for the trip.

Route planning is essential if your drive includes rural areas. Consider your vehicle’s fuel economy or battery range and determine where to stop. The last thing you want is an empty tank and a stranded vehicle.

2. Watch What You Eat

Road trips mean driving by gas stations, restaurants, and other businesses. Their foods are tempting and can be delicious, but watching what you eat is essential. Cleveland Clinic says junk food with refined carbohydrates spikes your blood sugar before insulin brings it down.

Be mindful of your road trip diet by preparing as much as possible beforehand. Pack healthy snacks like dried fruit, nuts, trail mix, granola, and popcorn. These foods contain complex carbohydrates that energize your body and keep you full longer.

3. Don’t Forget the Water

Food may be your primary focus on the road, but hydration is just as important. Long distances on the road require regular water intake to stay alert and maintain physical comfort. Harvard Health says water carries nutrients and oxygen to cells, thus ensuring your body’s energy. Men need about 15.5 cups daily, and women require 11.5.

However, your intake could change based on your body’s needs. Consult your doctor for an individualized assessment of your hydration.

4. Listen to Your Fatigue

Driving for hours can make you feel sleepy despite not moving much in the car. If you feel fatigued, listen to your body and find a rest area to recuperate. Check local laws to see how long you can stay in a rest area because some areas forbid overnight stays.

Experts say fatigue from driving can originate from medical issues, sleep disorders, or insufficient sleep in previous nights. Consider caffeinated beverages while on the road and ensure you have good posture. Slumping in the seat can make you feel less alert.

5. Stay Buckled and Comfortable

One way to mitigate fatigue is to bring friends on your road trip and take turns driving. Assign shifts for each person to drive and swap every few hours or until tired. When a friend relieves your driving duties, sleep in the backseat.

Curling up with a pillow can lead to much-needed rest — just ensure you buckle up beforehand. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) says seatbelts reduce fatal injuries by 45% and critical injuries by 50% if you sit in the front seat.

6. Apply and Reapply Your Sunscreen

Sunny road trips can make you eager to exit the car and embrace nature. Even if you don’t find the beach and hiking trails tempting, you shouldn’t forget your sunscreen. This lotion or spray is critical for road trips year-round because of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which can pass through windows. Though many windshields block most UV rays, side and back windows provide reduced protection.

Follow the directions on your sunscreen and reapply as needed every two hours, whether or not you leave the vehicle. Otherwise, you could risk skin and eye damage after UV exposure. UV exposure adds up over time and can cause skin cancer, including dangerous melanoma, in the long run.

7. Make Time for Exercise

Road trips often include long periods of sitting still and limited motion. While resting is fine, your body needs to get up occasionally and move around. How can you maintain your fitness while on a long journey? Make time for exercise by stopping at rest areas for a workout.

The exercises you pick don’t have to be complicated. Select simple workouts to get your heart pumping and blood flowing. For instance, resistance bands are terrific for bicep curls, split squats, and other fun fitness routines.

Making Road Trips Easier With Wellness Tips

Road trips bring excitement about your destination and the popular roadside attractions. However, the long drive can tax your health if you become tired or eat unhealthy foods. Prioritize wellness on your next road trip.