We've all been there, our dream holiday that we've been looking forward to for months is finally here and then 2 or 3 days in, you start to feel it, the runny nose and fatigue and you realise the dreaded holiday sickness is once again rearing it's ugly head. Why does this always happen to me you exclaim!
With only a few weeks of annual leave each year, holiday time is precious and we want you to enjoy every single day of it - illness free! So here's our Top 5 reasons why we get sick on holidays and a few suggestions to help avoid it!
1. Stress
If you're like most people, the last day or two before annual leave is a frenzy. Long hours and high stress trying to cram a few weeks work into a mere few hours. Google stress and you will find an infinite amount of studies and articles about how damaging it can be to our health. The high levels of adrenaline and cortisol create a fight or flight mode which in many people is now a constant. It is no surprise that once you relax on holiday, the adrenaline and cortisol reduce leaving an exposed and over worked immune system. We're like a lawn mower that revs uncontrollably just before it runs out of fuel
Tip: Start planning for your holiday earlier. Set a goal to be 'caught up' a minimum of 1 week prior to your holiday so you have a week to begin winding down. Let the adrenaline and cortisol reduce before your holiday, not on your holiday!
2. Dehydration
Studies have shown that over a 10 hour flight, Men can lose up to 2 litres of fluid and Women 1.6 Litres, just from the low humidity in the cabin. For anyone travelling to Europe that could be up to 4 litres by the time you arrive! This also doesn't include the effects of Alcohol or Caffeine consumed prior and during your flight which could dramatically increase fluid loss. A dehydrated body is a body not functioning at it's potential. Sure it's a great feeling to jump on that plane and have a few drinks to celebrate however it could potentially have a negative impact on your health during the holiday that you spent thousands of hard earned dollars on.
Tip: Be mindful of your hydration in the week leading up to your holiday and have a plan for your flight. Although you cannot take liquids of more than 100ml through security, take an empty drink bottle and ask your cabin crew to fill it up on board. This will ensure you know how much water you have had. Bonus tip: if you are focused on your hydration in flight, book an aisle seat : )
3. Nutrition
Travelling to different countries and cultures will mean different foods. When on holidays it is easy to throw any discipline out the window and enjoy guilt-free eating. We don't want to be the fun police here, after all you are on holiday but we should still keep an eye for opportunities to keep good nutrition flowing into our bodies. Your immune system will be working hard when you are away, so give your body some good fuel. It's amazing when you look for good food no matter where you are, you can generally find it. Look beyond the bacon and hash browns at most breakfast buffets and you'll see plenty of nutritious options.
Stress will also likely encourage 'comfort' eating (see point No.1) so be mindful of healthy eating in the week leading up to your trip. You want your body to be in tip top shape prior to the first day of your holiday!
Tip: Have a plan. Always have fresh fruit or snacks with you when exploring or sightseeing. Seek our a local fresh food or grocery store and find options that will work for you.
4. Germs
This is a no-brainer but one that is easily forgotten about. In a new city or country our bodies will be exposed to germs and bacteria that are unfamiliar to our immune system, creating a greater work load for it. Whilst we can't totally stop exposure from people and surroundings, we can at the very least ensure that we reduce the possible impact through good hand washing.
Tip: Keep a small hand sanitiser bottle on you and always wash/sanitise before eating
5. Sleep
Travel will almost always disrupt our routine. Early morning wake ups, over-night flights, late night's out. Unless you're travelling up the pointy end of the aircraft you're probably not going to get a fantastic sleep on your flight. It is important that leading up to your holiday you are getting good nights of sleep to give your body the best chance of recovering quickly once at your destination. If you are exhausted already before that 20hrs of flying to London, your body is destined for 'Struggle City' not 'London City'.
Tip: Be kind to yourself leading up to your trip. Eat and sleep well for at least 7 days prior to your holiday and use moderate exercise at your destination to help reset your body clock and reduce the symptoms of jet lag
A holiday is a time to refresh, recharge and re-inspire ourselves. Taking a few mindful steps to ensure we are in tip top shape before and during our holidays will ensure we have the holiday we always dreamed of and arrive home energised to achieve our life goals ahead.
Travel Well
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