On the Road Again-Better This Time
How To Travel With No Regrets
Almost without exception my clients have trouble with travel. They always feel they’ve blown it, have come back worse than they were before they left, and need to “mop up the damage.” Even worse they feel like they are a failure, and have no self control. I have clients that travel frequently, and this really is counter-productive to the very idea of a vacation. Who wants to “go away” at the cost of coming home behind the proverbial eight ball?
Well not me! So I have learned how to balance the unpredictability of travel, it’s sometimes limited resources, my own need for a break from the routine, AND hacking my travel with a few handy tricks. The key is having a PLAN, having a PLAN B, and finally, learning from my own need to control the situation (often not possible with travel.) Hence…the next story:
I just got back from a couple work related trips, the latter of which was by airplane. The day I was to head back home after a pretty intense but wonderful week, I was packed and ready to check out of my Airbnb. I came back from my final session to find I was locked out of my room with all of my things inside. #Scramblenumber1. After having solved that with a racing heart (my eye was on the clock…flight leaving in a couple of hours!) I called my Lyft and settled in for the wait. This turned out to be one of those times when Lyft ghosted me. Then Uber ghosted me. Then taxis were all booked. My phone suddenly decided it had no service. It began to rain. I was on the street dragging bags lterally wondering how so many things had gone awry. It was like the twilight zone. This was a small town. No Holiday Inn on the corner, no nothing. Now my flight leaves in an hour and I’m 30 mnutes from the airport. Yes, I know…not looking at all good. I began to open shop doors and yell inside, “Does anyone want to make some money and take me to the airport like RIGHT NOW? I was shameless, depserate and half crazy wondering what I was going to do. To make a long story short, eventually a lovely woman asked no questions, said “Let’s go! We got this!” (and…she wouldn’t take a cent, even though I offered her a million dollars;). Well…I did miss my flight. But only by about two minutes. I caught another. Took advantage of the glass of wine offer on the flight. And pulled my first all nighter in decades.
My point? I learned that a stress level that INORDINATELY HIGH, for that long, is very very debilitating on me. I felt it for a week. And yes I had to love myself deeply and carefully and compassionately back on track. Panic does not suit me well, nor you.
Prior to that exit zone I had had a pretty healthy trip and managed things like a champ. But…things do happen traveling and I learned that I have to be flexible, have a plan B, and in this case…rent a car.
So how can we TRAVEL BETTER? How can we come home healthier? That’s the subject of this blog. So let’s get to it :)
If flying, gather items you know are healthy and that can be meal replacements in a pinch. This is KEY. Do not leave yourself at the mercy of a restaurant to sustain yourself. If you do, you will absolutely come home LESS healthy. Here are a few of my go to’s that are easily packable.
~Paleo Valley Meat sticks (grass fed, and fermented, sealed and non perishable.)
~ Green powder(s) of choice to mix with water, in case you can’t get fresh vegetables or greens.
~Perect Amino’s (my easist to travel with protein option.)
~lemons
~raw nuts
~my favorite salt “Baja Gold”
~Supplements I feel are too important to skip in small labeled ziplock snack bags for space saving. (Just take as many as you need.) ( For examole-melatonin is invaluable to keep you on track when sleep times and environments are funky.)
~eye mask and ear plugs (you never know about what your environment will contain.)
`~My favorite thick hydrating body balm-aplenty! (Why is it every trip leaves us feeling dry skin??)
I travel in an EMF protectant hoodie and carry a personal space EMF deflector, as the airports are a massive source of radiation.
I schedule flights at a resonable hour, even if they cost a bit more, so I’m not totally our of synce with my circadian clock.
I have a plan for exercise/movement no matter what the season, temperature, or environment. (For exapmle this last trip (story above) I unknowingly flew into a fire area, and dangerous smoke levels. No problem. I know how to exercise in any space, and I do so every day. I use a towel on the floor for floorwork, coffee table for a bench, floor space for jumping, lunging, and full body moves. I usually throw in a single resistance band that can help with many moves. These bands are light and don’t take up any space in my bag.
I choose clothing that can go many directions… workout, long trekking walks/hikes, business meetings, out shopping, all that look good, move well and are super comfortable. (Black on black is a great basic that always looks dressy and polished, AND doesn’t show the occasional dirt of traveling. Sneakers can be sexy, sporty and funcitonal. Find a pair that you feel ALL OF THOSE THINGS wearing. Buy them!!!
Look at any trip as a mini personal spa time. Even if it’s business, it’s away from your normal routine. I think the mindset abround travel is very important. Many look at it as a time to indulge and eat and drink to their heart’s content. I actually do not. I look at it as a time to deeply connect with myself, and have maybe a little extra time to do some of those self-care items that kept getting “bumped” in normal life.
Of course, if you’re not flying but driving your car, the world is your oyster! You can pack an amazing ice chest!
7. Once you arrive and get settled, find a natural food grocer and grab the rest of your perishables that would make some yummy meals if added to what you packed. (Eggs to hardboil or scramble, veggies, some raw cheese, a steak or seafood fillet, a bottel of wine, a bar of dark chocolate. Voila! You are really self-sustaining for the duration.
8. An excellent option that not many think of is to have water shipped to your destination for your arrival. Ophorawater.com does this and you will know you are hydrated cleanly and purely for your trip. Cellular dehydration is what really makes us feel lousy after travel or a night out. Ophora Hyper-Oxygenated water is a huge luxurious treat while on the road. It’s not inexpensive, but a case sent to your destination is worth every penny and then some. You’ll be glad you invested. Simply call and give them your accomodation address and date. Bingo! Done!
Some final thoughts.
Returning Home
If by some chance, you had an experience like mine and your travel was hectic, pulled you off your game, led to extra stress, or other depletion, make sure you have a plan for how to UNDO the damage. Identify what happened and take the necessary steps to calm and re-balance your system.
A great hack for after a flight and excess radiation is 1 cup of sea salt + 1 cup of baking soda in a hot bath and it will pull all that radiation from you as you soak. A long sweaty session in an infrared sauna will be a great deox as well.
After you get home be sure and take a few minutes to make some notes in your phone under “TRAVELING HACKS” and list what would’ve worked better, what worked well, things to rememeber next time, etc. You’ll be that much smarter next time and packing will be easier.