How to Keep Your Energy Up While Traveling
Some
business trips can zap all your energy. I've been there-I've returned home to
family commitments that seemed like a chore; social engagements I avoided even
though I booked them months ago; and the regular weekend cleaning a job more daunting
than cleaning out my son's bedroom. Here are some tips to make sure it's only
jet lag you have to recover from when you arrive home.
If
you've been unlucky enough to land a milk-run flight, like I generally do when
leaving Saskatchewan, you'll spend most of your departure day in airports. This
usually results in a few things:
· Your meals have been
irregular, with snacks on and between flights.
· You've
spent a lot of time in stuffy airports or sitting on airplanes.
·
The atmosphere has been anything but conducive to relaxation as you stand in line
or rush to get connecting flights. The
first thing to do after arrival at your destination, before you've even unpacked,
is to get outside in the fresh air. Walking has many advantages: it's an aerobic
exercise that conditions the heart, improves muscle tone and strength, relieves
stress, can help with back pain, osteoporosis, and many other conditions. Of
course, if you had late flights you may arrive in a strange city at night, when
it may not be wise to walk alone. In that case, take advantage of the exercise
room provided in most hotels. A stationary walking machine is standard equipment.
Just fifteen minutes of aerobic activity on it will help shake the bloated feeling
that often occurs after sitting all day in airports. Aerobic
activity also reduces stress and stress-related impacts on the body, through the
production of endorphins. Endorphins have both neurological and spinal effects,
partly by helping to improve the circulation of blood in the body. They also have
an anti-aging effect achieved by removing Superoxide from the body, and keep the
brain cells young and healthy. Once
you're done your aerobic activity, use your unpacking time as a cool-down activity,
since it's not a good idea to just flop into a chair after exercise. Not only
will you feel better knowing you haven't forgotten anything as you put your belongings
in place, but your wrinkle-free outfits will have a chance to recover from their
trip.
If
you have meetings planned with co-workers or clients later in the evening, there
are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, if you're not used to dining late,
but have arranged to get together over a meal, make sure you stick to something
small and easily digested, even if you're feeling famished-fruit is the most easily
digested of all foods, with vegetables being second. A steak is one of the most
difficult.
Second,
avoid alcoholic beverages, restricting yourself to virgin cocktails or herbal
teas with no caffeine. Alcohol may decrease the time required to fall asleep,
however studies indicate that consuming alcohol as long as six hours previous
to bedtime will disrupt the second half of your night's sleep.
Sleep
is divided into several different states, alternating between REM or dream-sleep
and deeper sleep. The fourth stage of sleep is the deepest level, but the one
where the disruptive effects of alcohol have the greatest impact. Lack of deep
sleep causes alertness problems, memory deficits, and many other health disorders.
In other words, getting a good night's sleep is extremely important.
So,
how do you ensure you'll sleep in a strange bed in a new city? Many travelers
regularly pack a pillow to ensure comfort. While I've never tried it, I do several
other things that I find helpful.
A
nice long soak in a hot bath before bedtime is an excellent start to a good night's
sleep. Sleep experts have discovered that sleep deepens as the body temperature
drops, so that by increasing the body temperature just before bedtime, you can
help induce Stage IV, deep dreamless sleep that will help you feel refreshed in
the morning.
Have
you tried aromatherapy? It is the use of scents, often in the bath water, to reduce
stress and induce relaxation. When you inhale an aroma, the odor molecules drift
towards the olfactory receptors, which are sensory pathways opening directly into
the brain. Utilizing the limbic system, these odors often trigger memories and
can influence moods and emotions. You may need to try several different aromas
before you find the most effective one for you.
Used
in the bath, the scents are often part of an essential oil package, which can
have other benefits, depending on the type you choose. You may want to find an
oil with a herb such as chamomile to help you relax after a hectic day. Or, if
you have that sore-all-over feeling after traveling, try an oil with rosemary
or mugwart in it.
I
know I often try to pack far more into a business trip than I should-and you're
likely the same. However, each day should include:
· Downtime to allow you to relax for at least half an hour or more doing
something you enjoy.
· Exercise time of at least half an
hour, which can be a quick walk, another visit to the exercise room, or a speed-trip
through a nearby mall.
· Regular mealtimes. Don't
try to squeeze your exercise or personal time out of your lunch hour just because
you're going to have a snack bar to eat. Skipping meals will cause lots of problems
later on, as well as throwing your blood sugar levels [which influence energy]
out of whack.
Package
up any pressures or deadlines you can't deal with while you're out of town, and
put them at the very back of your mind. Stress is one of the major contributors
to many health problems, so develop positive ways of coping with the things you
can't change.
Make
each evening as relaxing as your first one, and you should end up on your flight
home feeling just as rested, or even better than when you left.
--Linda
Aksomitis is a freelance travel writer, as well as fiction and nonfiction writer.
Previously she was the sales representative for a sewing machine company, traveling
to many different North American locations. |
