Self Care and Travel

I open the door to the little studio that I have rented. It’s my first evening in Amorgos and I just returned from having a very early dinner in Aegali. I feel obligated to go back out and explore more, but I am tired. It’s been a long day of traveling on the ferry from Athens, getting my rental car, and driving the 30 minutes of winding roads to where I am staying. But I only have two nights at this end of the island and I really should explore more. I really should drive to the nearby village, walk around and grab a drink. I walk back outside and take in the breathtaking view. I feel myself relax as I sit down on the bench. I decide to listen to my body.

Let’s talk about self-care when traveling. If your travel style looks like; cramming everything into your days, going non-stop, and trying to fit it all in, well I get it. Maybe you have major FOMO worrying that you won’t see everything you “should” see. It makes sense to want to get the most out of your vacation days, but at what cost? In the past, I have returned home and found myself exhausted and desperately needing a vacation to recover from my vacation.

I want to share something with you. It’s OK to slow down, to not see it all, to take a night off, put on comfy clothes, and watch a movie in bed.

Here are a few things to keep in mind regarding your health and self-care when traveling;

~ Sleep: Everyone is a bit different but getting quality sleep between 7-9 hours is ideal.

~ Eating balanced meals: We all tend to “splurge” when on vacation or traveling to new places. But remember to think about balance. For every gelato, throw in a delicious salad with veggies.

~ Try and establish a short morning practice that includes activities to nourish your body and mind. (meditation, journaling, stretching, exercise, water, etc)

~ Don’t be afraid to say no! If you are traveling with another person or a group, don’t be afraid to decline an activity to rest or do something that is better suited to your needs. It’s ok to let others know how you’re feeling and that you need to take care of yourself. Good travel companions will understand.

~ Water, water, water! Hydration is so important. Especially if you are drinking alcohol, don’t forget the water. Consider bringing some electrolytes such as Liquid I.V. which can be mixed into your water.

Enjoy your travels and trust your intuition when it comes to taking care of YOU. 🙂

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