Last year I was on the road up in the air. I mean, really up in the air. According to my travel stats on tripit, I flew close to 60,000 miles domestically and visited nearly 50 cities (a few duplicates). There was plenty of time to think, work, plan and ”test my patience”. A few tricks I learned along the way helped keep my health, productivity and most importantly, sanity, in-check.
TIP #1 BRING A REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE
Seems like a lame trick but allow me to explain. Bottled water at airports will typically run you between $4-5. What.a.joke. Since TSA won’t let you carry through security any liquids over 3oz, a reusable water bottle can be emptied (preferably into your stomach) while you wait to pass and refilled on the “other side”. The AA terminal at O’Hare has these gucci water cooler filler uppy thingys but any old bubbler water fountain will do.
A free and filled up water bottle allows you to quench your thirst while everyone waits until the flight attendants roll through to give you a teeny tiny cup that you can throw down your gullet in one big gulp.
But wait, there’s MORE! When you get to the hotel, you will be charged, most of the time, once again, between $4-5 for good ole’ bottled water. If you prefer filtered water to fill up your resusable as opposed to the bathroom sink, head to the fitness center of the hotel. They always have a water cooler and you can snatch up some cold-filtered h20.
What’s the big deal with water? Dehydration coupled with lack of oxygen doesn’t leave you feeling the freshest upon arrival. So drink up, gate-to-gate and not only will you save some cash but hopefully feel a little better too!
TIP #2 WORKOUT!
Traveling means dining out, a lot. Sometimes you don’t have time, energy or logistical ability to choose a healthy dining option. What you can control is bringing some workout gear and deciding to get a few sessions in while you are on the road. It boosts my moral and helps me to keep a sense of normalcy while I’m scouring the country.
I always bring my running shoes. Yes, they take up valuable luggage space but running is quick, free and you can do it anywhere, even in cold weather - every hotel has a treadmill. I also find it an incredible way to feel the vibe of the city and see a different perspective. The picture above was taken from my phone on an early morning jog while working in San Francisco. Double your phone with musical motivation and navigation.
If you’re a swimmer, Tim Ferris recommends packing swimwear and hitting the pool to save packing space.
If I have time (rarely, I do) I will google local yoga studios that do early morning or evening classes and buy a drop-in class. There are yoga studios in every city nowadays and depending on the city, prices range between $15-20 per class.
Many hotels have agreements with local gyms. Check your hotel’s website for details.
TIP #3 SAVOR THE HEALTHY FLAVOR
As I mentioned above, eating healthy on the road, is tough. I find it rewarding to eat well when I travel. I also feel a general sense of better well-being when I eat healthy. I use yelp to find healthy dining options near me and look for delivery to the hotel if I don’t have rental car. If I have a car and it’s close, I’ll go to Whole Foods and have dinner. It’s fast, casual, per-diem friendly. Most importantly, it’s plentiful of healthy options. Looking for comfort food or have a picky dinning buddy? They have pizza and beer, too. While on the road, I’ve brought many co-workers to WFs for the dining experience and they are always happy with the decision and ask to go back!
There you have it. Three simple tricks that can make your life a little bit easier and hopefully healthier on your next trip.
