Self-care is a lot more than just face masks, but don’t get me wrong, I do love a good face mask! While there may never be a perfect time to work on self-care strategies, you can always find a way to do so. Self-care is about caring for yourself and doing something to improve or maintain your mental and physical health. It might sound odd to talk about self-care while you travel, especially when most of us travel to destress or go on vacation.
However, the reality is that most of us forget that with so many new sounds and an abundance of culture around us, we can start to put our self-care on the back burner. When we are exhausted, feel off, or sick while vacationing, it can make it hard to make those long-lasting memories, that’s why it’s so important to practice self-care while you’re traveling.
How to Practice Self Care While Traveling
Read on for some of my best tips for how to practice self-care while you’re traveling. And if you found this helpful, be sure to follow us on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram! You can also join our Facebook community and newsletter chats.
Do a Digital Detox
If you decide to skip all the other tips on this list, make sure you stick with this one. It’s by far one of the best ways to practice self-care while you’re traveling! Whether you are traveling by yourself or with loved ones, keep your screen time to a BARE minimum and just be present. Put your phone away and power down your laptop. Even if you can’t afford to make your entire trip screen-free, at least take some time to be without your screen and enjoy this trip! Do not disturb mode or airplane mode are your friend! This way you can still use for phone to capture content and get around town as needed.
Giving your mind a break from the screen and all the distractions of the online world is a simple way to accomplish self-care activities for mental health as soon as possible.
Get Good Sleep
We all have to sleep at some point, but it’s not just enough to get your eight hours. You need to be getting good sleep. When your sleep schedule is off, so will you! It can be tempting to stay out a little too late or even book a night bus while traveling. However, a lack of sleep can create a travel experience that is anything but magical. Don’t sacrifice your sleep just because you’re on vacation.
It’s also a good idea to pack things that will help create a sleep routine close to your normal routine. This could look like your pillow case (I personally sleep better on my silk pillowcase), eye masks, CBD or other supplements, kindle to read or journal to write before bed, etc!
Get Moving
Just about every vacation spot is going to allow for some form of exercise and movement while you’re traveling. This could just be a simple walk to see sights or hiking at a state park. This is one of the easiest ways to boost physical self-care strategies fast.
Look for opportunities that encourage you to participate in something outdoors, such as swimming at the hotel pool or doing yoga with goats! My personal favorite? Exploring a city by taking a walk around town after dinner. All of these will help you boost your mood and still build memories while on vacation.
Turn Your Troubles into Bubbles
Do you have a room with a glorious view and a bathtub? Why not take advantage of it! You might not be much of a bath person at home, but indulging in a long bubble bath can be great when paired with a glass of wine when you’re on vacation. If you don’t have a bathtub in your room, consider hopping down to the hotel hot tub for a few hours for a relaxing soak. This can be so relaxing and a break from the hustle and bustle of your plans. It’s one of the best emotional self-care strategies to do.
Don’t Be Afraid to Linger
Travel can be exhausting. You are constantly rushing from A to B and onto C before you’ve even had a chance to catch your breath. From hitting plane terminals left and right to staying “on schedule” to cramming as much as you can into your trip, traveling is busy! Instead, take a slower and lingering outlook on your travels. Really relax and spend quality time in the places that you visit. Take the time to really enjoy those places or take a guilt-free lazy day by the pool.
Count Memories, Not Calories
Order a bottle of wine or have a dessert or two while you’re traveling. It’s okay to go back for seconds and savor everything in front of you. Meals, especially while on holiday, are meant to be enjoyed and should be an experience in itself. You don’t want to overeat, but at the same time, you shouldn’t feel like you are speeding through meals either. Focus on fueling your body while on vacation, and don’t worry about the occasional indulgence while traveling.
Say No
Getting out into the world and seeing it all can bring you so many new opportunities. New places to explore, new people waiting to say hello, new foods you’ve never tried, and new things to do. Saying yes to everything that comes your way can leave you feeling burnt out by the time you leave. This is why it’s so important to really be selective about what you choose to indulge in. By being more selective with your yes, you will get a much better travel experience.
Connect with Others
When we travel, we can often be a little bit introverted. We don’t chat with locals and tend to keep to ourselves. However, one of the best ways to experience another place is by interacting with your local community. Locals can share with you better places to eat and the best ways to spend your trip, and you can end up making new friends along the way. Head to a local coffee shop, town square, or another place to gather and talk with others.
Remember, It’s a Vacation
Vacations are relay races for how much you can cram into one trip. It’s not a contest to see who gets the most Instagram-worthy photo. It’s about taking some time away from your home to experience a new place. So treat it as such! This is supposed to be a chance for you to get away from the rest of the world, so do that! Take a moment to really just take in the place you chose to visit. Experience everything at your fingertips, and don’t let go of the reason you wanted to go there in the first place.
What Are the Five Key Areas of Self-Care?
If you want to really focus on the areas that you need to monitor and improve, there are five self-care areas to know. These are physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual and professional.
What is the first step to self-care?
The first thing to do is remember that this is about you. Stop putting yourself on the back burner and put yourself first.
As you can see, self-care is simple, and when you’re traveling, it can be even easier. A few changes and tweaks can help you take your self-care with you even if you leave your home. The next time you head out to see the world, make sure to take some time for self-care to really make the most of your next vacation or go to your destination better prepared.
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