reducing stress (and keeping your hormones happy) while traveling.
My family and I just got back from an early spring break trip down to SoCal to hang at Disneyland. We love Disney, and we’ve been a couple of times over the last few years. But, I have to tell you… our first few trips went nowhere near as smoothly as this last one did.
We didn’t travel a lot when our kids were little, and we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. And I mean, when it comes to Disney specifically, it’s so easy to get ahead of yourself and put your excitement before, well, pretty much anything else! Kids and adults included.
We always have fun, but it never failed that we would be so completely exhausted mid-trip that we weren’t having the kind of fun that we were in the beginning. We would be drained, cranky, irritable and out of sorts in all different ways. And it never failed, at least one of us would get sick at some point, in some way.
The difference was, this time around we made the time to put ourselves first. And we learned to listen to the signals our bodies were sending us. No matter where you’re headed next, Disney or otherwise, the things I’ve learned the hard way from my own experience and as an NTP can help you do the same.
The thing is, we are exposed to so many stressors when we travel and we’re out of our element and normal surroundings. And if you’re traveling with kids, that stress can amplify times a million. This extra stress can make us feel sick, tired, wired, or even worse.
And who wants that on vacation?!
Not me. And I’m guessing, not you either?
So here’s the deal: Some stressors are out of our control (delayed flights, long lines, crowds) but others are perfect opportunities for us to take control. There are a few simple things to keep in mind when it comes to reducing stress (and keeping your hormones happy) during travel:
#1: Eat Breakfast before heading out on your adventures
Our family used to be so excited to start our day that we would wake up and basically run out the door, eager to head to the parks to play. No breakfast, no snacks packed… food was the last thing on our minds (except for the churros we came across mid-day when we were starving).
This pattern sent our blood sugar levels all over the place, stressed our already stressed out adrenals, and eventually added to our exhaustion.
Once we made the time to eat before heading out (chock full of plenty of healthy fats and protein) it made a world of difference.
We had a good quality whole milk yogurt, added in some chia seeds and blueberries, and we were on our way. It took us less than 5 minutes each morning, and we could eat them on our walk into the parks.
#2: Keep healthy fats and protein handy for snacking
Even with a good breakfast, healthy snacks are a must when traveling! You never know what’s going to be available to eat, and sometimes you’re at the mercy of whatever you can find (which isn’t always going to make you feel good!).
We kept almonds, cashews, and Chomps beef sticks in our bags every day. It took me less than 10 minutes each night to repack our bags with our snacks for the next day, and we were set!
When indulging with treats (it is a vacation, after all!) it’s always helpful to pair sugary sweets with some healthy fats. It’ll help prevent a blood sugar spike, and the accompanying crash later in the day.
#3: Stay hydrated
I know, it’s hard enough to stay hydrated on a normal day. And it’s probably not the first thing you’re thinking about on vacation. But since traveling stresses us enough as is, the last thing you need is the added stress of dehydration!
Here’s a tip: water needs electrolytes for absorption. So no matter how much water you’re drinking, you may not even be absorbing a whole lot of it if you’re not adding in electrolytes too!
The easiest way to do this is to add a sprinkle of salt to your water. And I’m not talking table salt. Good quality, mineral rich salt is what you want! My favorite brand is Real Salt, or any good pink himalayan works too.
We brought some from home in a small travel size container. Sprinkle a little in each bottle of water you bring with you for the day and you’re set.
#4: Replenish your minerals.
Stress depletes our minerals. Replacing them as often as possible will help you feel much more energized! Even at Disney, we were able to find some pretty delicious salads, packed along some fruits and veggies for snacking, and the yogurt and nuts I mentioned earlier helped us out as well.
Not to mention, the salt in your water!
(Dark leafy greens like Kale are full of minerals.)
No matter where your next travels take you, I hope these tips are helpful and make your next vacation even that much more enjoyable.
And as always, feel free to take what you need and what you feel comfortable with trying out for now, and leave the rest. There is no room for perfectionism here. A little change can go a long way.
If you’d like to see how we actually implemented these tricks during our week at Disney, I have a highlight saved just for that over on instagram.
