9 Ways to Stay Healthy on Vacation and Still Enjoy Yourself

It's true — exercise can be part of your vacation, not just take away from it. You'll be so glad you decided you went on that hike instead of just lounging around a pool when you see the view from the top.

It's tempting to eat out for every single meal when you're visiting a new place, but you can make things healthier in calories and money if you make meals at home. When you put together your food, you know exactly what's going in your body and not guessing from a menu. Whether it's eating yogurt and granola at your Airbnb for breakfast or taking sandwiches with you while you sightsee, try to eat at least one meal a day that isn't from a restaurant.

It's completely understandable to feel like workouts will cut into all the exciting things you planned to do that day on vacation — and it's totally okay to give yourself a break. But, instead of completely ditching exercise, try just cutting your routine shorter. If you normally hit the gym for an hour, try going on a 30-minute run. You'll feel more energized and excited for all the fun activities you have planned if you dedicate a little time to working out. Try this do-anywhere HIIT workout on your next trip!

One of the most typical reasons we slip out of your healthy practices on vacation is because our routine changing makes it easy for us to forget about them. To combat that, make a list of the habits you want to keep up even while on vacation, like taking your vitamins or exercising or writing in a diary. You can even use a to-do list app to keep the list with you at all times. Checking off the habits will make you feel accomplished and keep you accountable!

You might feel pulled to stay up all night to experience your vacation to the fullest, but trust us, that's not how it works. If you neglect your sleep, you won't have nearly as much fun when you're out and about, and you'll be more susceptible to things like colds and the desire to overeat to combat your lack of energy. So remember to hit the hay at as reasonable a time as possible, so your vacation is full of rest, not regret.

Yes, it's important to catch some rays and vitamin D on your vacation — it feels great, and you deserve it. But when you do, make sure to either use SPF 30 sunscreen or throw a long-sleeved shirt and a hat on to protect your skin. Your vacation shouldn't end in pink, itchy pain!

If you're going to visit friends, make sure they know ahead of time that you plan to make healthy choices. That way, you'll all be thinking about it, and you won't have to make excuses when they suggest getting that fourth cocktail. And who knows — maybe working-out time will end up being part of your bonding time!

Yes, it's very exciting visiting people and meeting new friends on vacation, but it's still important to have time by yourself so you don't get drained. Whether it's taking a walk alone or staying in bed to read for a bit in the morning, make sure you make time to recharge your mind.

It's so easy to trade water for coffee, alcohol, and soda while you're traveling — being on the search for energy or a buzz can have us passing up hydration for something that gets the job done. But you'll end up looking and feeling dehydrated and exhausted if you don't keep drinking water. Try carrying a water bottle with you so you can take sips in between chugging iced lattes.

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