Tips For Summer Vacation
It’s Summer and, for many of us, that means VACATION! Whether you are traveling solo or with a big ol’ group of friends and family, vacation can take you out of your normal routine and contribute to unwanted aches and pains. Here are a few tips for summer travel to help you minimize your discomforts and maximize your enjoyment of your special getaway!
Stretch + Move Your Body
Any time you will be sitting for extended periods, make sure to find creative ways to stretch or move your body to keep it from tightening up. When you make a stop, try doing a few squats or lunges to loosen up tight tissues, or just walk around to pump your blood, deepen your breathing, and relax your shoulders. Make sure to take a potty break and prepare anything you might need available for your next sedentary span of time.
Bring Healthy Snacks
Fruits, vegetables, granola bars, energy bites, and homemade trail mix are fantastic options to bring with you on the go! Snacking is a great way to boost your energy during a long drive. It also provides extra nutrients to keep your blood glucose levels at their proper place. Plus, it helps curb your appetite to prevent overeating or stopping at fast-food places.
Get Adjusted Before & After
To ensure maximum relaxation for your vacation get-away, make sure to get a chiropractic adjustment before you hit the road! Gentle chiropractic adjustments can help decrease muscle tension, increase range of motion, improve sleep, and even encourage a better attitude! Make sure to tune up before your big trip!
After all your adventures are over, your body may be a little “out of whack” from travel, different beds, strange pillows, and “too much fun”. Make an appointment to help get your nervous system reset so you can seamlessly integrate back into your normal daily routine.
Stay Hydrated
When you are dehydrated, a few things can happen, including fatigue, muscle cramps, headaches, constipation, and overeating. Fatigue is an important problem to combat when you're traveling because you will likely be busy with little time to rest. Staying hydrated is an easy way to keep your body feeling comfortable. Keep water easily accessible during your travels and always make sure you have a reusable water bottle at hand! It also encourages frequent stops so you can stretch and move around.
Play Games
We live on our devices, but, if you have a road trip planned for the summer this is a perfect opportunity to enjoy quality time together! Put your devices down, and take things back a little with some good ol’ games! Our favorites include One Word Stories where each person goes around saying only one word at a time. You build off one another to create an often silly, and sometimes nonsensical, story you’ll be talking about your entire drive.
Another fun game is I Spy! The player gives the first letter or color of an object as a clue. Then, the others take turns trying to guess what it is the Spy is looking at. The first person to guess correctly wins! Additional games include License Plates, How Many Words Can You Think Of that start with “xyz”, or even a deck of cards are great to keep on hand.
Have A Playlist
Apps like Apple Music & Spotify have amazing playlists created specifically for travel, and the best part is, they’re free to use! Try downloading a playlist that has a specific theme or is related to where you’re going. Podcasts are also a great way to keep passengers entertained and engaged. Try downloading a mystery series or your favorite comedian’s standup! Don’t forget books on tape are also fun and can be found in Apps like Audible, or even through your local libraries. If it’s a family trip, let the kids get involved as you determine your selection. They’ll love having a voice and look forward to getting to listen on the road!
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Dr. Jessica Tallman