Vacation should be a time of sampling local foods, exploring new destinations, and enjoying every moment away from the daily grind of work or responsibilities. With all this merry-making, it can be way too easy to sabotage your health. The last thing you want upon returning home from vacation is to feel like a slug due to overindulgence during your vacay. Here are a few simple tips to staying fit and feeling fine on your vacation while still having fun.

Healthy Flying: Too often, our health is most threatened the minute we step foot in an airport. Fatty fast foods, drying canned air, stressful environments, and a slew of germs crawling all over the place make airports and airplanes a death trap to our health. Luckily, there are steps you can take to thwart the unhealthy effects of airplane travel. For example, pack your own healthy lunch or snacks before heading off to the airport. This will keep you satisfied, save you money and help you resist the grossly unhealthy food often found in airports and on airplanes. Remember to drink plenty of water to keep you hydrated too. Doing this will help your body stay nourished while exposed to the recycled air piped in through airplanes and throughout airports. Also, consider performing deep breathing exercises and/ or meditation to keep your stress levels down while babies are crying and passengers are clanging all around. Breathing deeply and meditating is especially helpful if traveling by air stresses you out. Lastly, keep hand sanitizers and antibacterial wipes at the ready. Wipe down your plane seat before getting situated. Use your hand sanitizer often so you can avoid lingering germs left behind by other travelers.

Save Your Skin: Whether by plane, train, or automobile, travel can take a toll on your healthy glow.  As mentioned, it’s vital to keep hydrated before, during, and after your travel.  Drinking plenty of water while enjoying your vacation will keep your skin hydrated and looking great. If you’re vacationing to sunny destinations, be sure to apply sunscreen to avoid burns (or worse, certain skin cancers). Travel often kicks up a lot of dirt and grime so be sure to continue your clean skincare routine by washing your face well. This will help prevent dirt and oil buildup so you can avoid breakouts or blemishes while showing your best face for selfies on your vacation.

Eat Smart: Sticking to healthy eating choices while traveling is probably the number one challenge everyone faces while on vacation. Local delicacies are so delicious and tempting! Thankfully, you can still sample street foods, nosh on exotic edibles, and nibble on bodacious bites. The trick is moderation. Sample everything, but do so in small portions. Depending upon where you travel, you can healthily experience the best foods any region has to offer. More and more, restaurateurs are offering smarter, healthier choices to diners that boast bold flavors within their culture.  For example, try alternatives like vegetarian soft tacos instead of deep-fried smothered pork chimichangas.  It’s okay to splurge, but it’s also easy to make mindful compromises so your diet (and your waistline) doesn’t suffer from vacation indulgences.

Sleep Well: This is perhaps one of the most overlooked aspects of staying fit and healthy while on vacation. Too often we forget that we are sleeping in foreign beds, not anticipating odd noises in the night, or maybe even partying too much which can keep us from getting enough quality shut-eye.  That’s why certain items such as noise-canceling earbuds or soothing eye masks are travel essentials for decent sleep while traveling. Also, think about drinking a bit less alcohol and more water. This will help you hit the pillow and prepare for a better night’s sleep.  Lastly, avoid eating big meals before bedtime.  This often wreaks havoc on any attempt to sleep soundly.

Move Your Body:  When enjoying vacation, exercise is probably the last thing on your mind. That’s understandable. This should be a time to enjoy and have fun. However, you don’t have to do a three-mile run or drop and do 100 pushups to maintain your health while traveling.  Doing a few simple stretches in the morning or a few yoga moves every day goes a long way to keeping you fit.  Better yet, think about incorporating physical activities that are region-specific. For example, consider going horseback riding if you’re visiting Texas or hiking while visiting the Grand Canyon.  At the very least, work in some walking or biking time while touring your vacation destination. Strolling through expansive marketplaces or cycling on charming bike paths is a brilliant way to soak in the scenery while staying fit and healthy on your vacation.

Wherever your destination for vacation and whatever you find yourself doing, these tips will help you retain your health while still enabling you to enjoy yourself. Happy (and healthy) travels to you!