Getting sick is a bummer no matter when it happens, but getting sick during the holidays is the WORST. The holidays are a time to relax and enjoy the company of your family and friends, and it’s hard to do any of that when you’re sick. If you stay home for the holidays, it’s a bit easier to avoid the cold and flu germs that get us sick. But if you are traveling somewhere, staying healthy can get really tricky!
But it is possible to avoid getting sick during holiday travel. If you take a few simple precautions before and during the trip, you can easily have a healthy and enjoyable holiday with your loved ones…no tissues needed!
Related: These Are The Best Tips For Packing A Carry On Bag
10 Tips to Avoid Getting Sick During Holiday Travel
Before the Trip
1. Take Supplements
Start taking probiotics and/or a daily vitamin before traveling to help support your immune system. A strong immune system will be better and fending off harmful germs and bacteria.
Read More: Everything You Need To Know About Probiotics
2. Pack a Snack
There’s something about being in an airport that doesn’t feel like real life. As soon as you get through security, any time-based food rules go out the window – suddenly it’s totally acceptable to get a Diet Coke at 7AM, or have a Cinnabon for lunch. (Or is that just me? Please tell me it’s not just me.)
An easy way to avoid the inevitable airport snack attack is to bring your own snacks. Choose healthy options like granola bars, baby carrots, crackers, etc. Wet foods like yogurt, peanut butter, and applesauce will count as liquids, so you can bring those along if they’re in packages that are 3.4 ounces or less.
Read More: 3-Ingredient Homemade Lara Bars
3. Stay Warm
I tend to get really cold on a lot of flights, so I always make sure to pack a blanket or scarf into my carry-on. Keep yourself warm!
4. Sanitize Often
The surfaces you come in contact with in an airport, bus station, or train station have been exposed to all sorts of germs, from all sorts of places. It’s a lot for your immune system to handle, so bring a small bottle of hand sanitizer with you. Use it often!
In Transit
5. Don’t Dry Out
Recirculated air can be really dry, which can dry you out. If you usually wear contacts, opt for eyeglasses during the trip to avoid dry eyes. You can also use a nasal spray to keep your nasal passages moist, which will help you stay healthy.
6. Use Your Vent
If you have an air vent to yourself, try to angle it so that the air is coming straight down in front of your face. This can help divert germs and bacteria away from your face.
7. Steer Clear
Try to avoid sitting or standing near anyone who is sneezing, sniffling, or coughing. If you’re in an assigned seating situation, ask your attendant if you can have a sterile face mask. Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do!
During Your Stay
8. Remember Your Veggies
Like being at the airport, being on a trip or vacation can really mess with your ability to make good food choices. But getting plenty of fruits and vegetables will help you stay healthy, so it’s important to make them a priority! Drink plenty of water, too.
9. Get Some Exercise
You don’t have to go to a drop-in class at the local gym, but make sure to get some light exercise every day. Even half-hour walk each day will help keep your body from getting sluggish (and more susceptible to getting sick).
10. Embrace the Fizz
If you’re traveling in a foreign country, drinking sparkling water is an easy way to ensure that your water is clean. (The fizzing when you open the bottle proves that it hasn’t been opened since it left the factory.) Even if you aren’t traveling abroad, sparkling water will keep you hydrated, and the carbonation of sparkling water can help prevent indigestion, too.
