Ever noticed that despite planning a road trip for self-care, we often feel exhausted when we get back home? Have you said “I need a vacation to recover from my vacation”? You and I are not the only ones. It’s not uncommon for women to take a journey meant for relaxation or self-discovery and return home exhausted. And, while hitting the open road can be exhilarating, the road trip travel includes disrupted routines and stressors that often leave us with a good case of travel fatigue.
Fortunately, we can make sure that our road trips become the nurturing experiences that we want them to be. A little self care on a road trip can make sure we return home feeling refreshed.
Here are 10 essential tips to practice self-care effectively during your next road adventure
- Hydration
We can’t hear this enough. Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate. Staying hydrated on vacation can take more work than at home. Air conditioners and summer heat can pull moisture out of our bodies. Combine that with disrupted schedules that throw us off our routines and it’s easy to see why we forget to drink water.
Mayo Clinic suggests that women consume 11.5 cups of water daily. You can make this goal easier by carrying water with you. Leak proof water bottles that you can tuck into your tote or backpack puts water at your fingertips. If you don’t already have a water bottle that you like, this insulated bottle on Amazon has a strap that makes it easy to carry. A collapsible water bottle like this one can be helpful if you’re short on packing space. Just be sure to have water with you and drink often. - Plan time for self-care
Schedule time for self-care. What you don’t plan for usually doesn’t happen. And, the type of self-care you schedule can be a special spa day or a few minutes to sit in a coffee shop and read a good book. It just needs to be whatever type of activity helps you recharge. - Pack Healthy Snacks
No one wants to be hungry in the middle of nowhere. Healthy snacks will help keep your energy up and fill in the gaps when there’s no place to stop (or if you don’t like the food at your destination). - Be comfortable
Wear non-binding clothing and leave those trendy heels at home. A good pair of walking shoes is a necessity. If you must bring heels for a special night out, make sure you take a pair of foldable shoes with you. Sitting for long periods and eating different foods can make your feet swell and those cute heels may not fit. Those foldable shoes can save the day. - Sleep
Make sleep a priority when you’re on a road trip. Vacation is not the time to put rest aside. Try to maintain the sleep hygiene pattern that you do at home (or better). A lot of people find it helpful to invest in a travel pillow and comfortable eye mask. There are many. My favorite is a padded mask with ear buds so I can stream relaxing sleeping music or one that’s heated. The main thing is to choose one that’s padded, comfortable and blocks the light. Some people also like to pack ear plugs for sleeping. - Bring entertainment
Pack a good book. Download an e-book in full or bring a simple craft that you can do on vacation. You’ll indulge in some self-care and have a backup plan for rainy or snowy days. - Resist the temptation to do it all
This adds stress to your travel that you don’t need. Pick one or two main activities that you “must do” and work on those. Look at any other activities as extra opportunities that round out the trip. When you feel pressure to “do it all” you won’t be able to relax and enjoy the journey and that’s what a road trip is all about. - Sun safety
Would you believe that sunscreen is one of the most forgotten travel items? Getting a sunburn can not only dampen your fun but it can cause a trip to an urgent care center. A regular sized bottle of sunscreen is best. Even a small tube that you can stick in your purse can help in a pinch. You can pick up small tubes of sunscreen in the toiletry section of most drug or grocery stores. It’s also helpful to use a foundation that contains sunscreen.
A wide brimmed hat or visor and sunglasses can also help keep you more comfortable in the sun. Don’t forget. Umbrellas shield you from rain or sun. They can be invaluable for creating shade on bright or hot sunny days. - Journal
Spend a few minutes here and there jotting down your thoughts. You can also use a journal to keep general notes about your trip. This helps you avoid the pitfall of believing you’ll only be in a place once. You may like it so well that you may make plans to return some day. A journal isn’t just a tool to help you relax. It can be a good tool for future trip planning as well. - Be flexible
Flexibility in both mind and body are good self-care techniques. Stretching can feel really good after a day on the road or on the go. Do a few light stretches here and there or bring along a few resistance bands for the hotel. It can keep your body from tightening up and can help reduce stress.
Keep a flexible schedule. Even the best of plans are likely to change. Ball games get rained out. Traffic jams can make you late for an event. Or any number of things can come up. Show yourself some self-compassion by taking it all in stride.
Most of all, give yourself permission to experience the moment. If a road sign you didn’t expect catches your eye, give yourself permission to investigate it. Road trips are about the journey. And fully embracing the journey may be the best self-care tip there is.
Bodacious Broads Travel Blog 