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Traveling presents unique challenges when it comes to maintaining our health and well-being. I find that there are three things in my routine that can easily take a hit while traveling. These three habits directly impact my health and energy levels, and I'm going to share them with you now.
1. 1) Connection with Jesus, 2) Drinking enough water, and 3) the disrupted sleep patterns.
I know that traveling can throw us out of our normal routine and cause us to fall into rhythms that we probably wouldn’t at home. Or, if we struggle with these three habits at home, it's even harder to keep them in check while on the road.
I want to encourage you to not let your most important pillars of health fall through the cracks when you're traveling. Getting in daily devotions with Jesus, drinking water, and getting that good quality sleep are three absolute habits that you should take with you while traveling to stay grounded and protect your health.
Daily devotions with Jesus are a cornerstone of many people's spiritual practices, providing a dedicated time for prayer, reflection, and connection with God. Setting aside moments each day to commune with Jesus offers a profound opportunity for spiritual growth, renewal, and intimacy with the divine.
It's through prayer, reading scripture, and meditating on God's word, that we can deepen our relationship with Jesus, find guidance and wisdom, and experience the transforming power of God's love and grace.
By prioritizing daily devotions with Jesus, believers cultivate a heart posture of openness, receptivity, and surrender to God's will, inviting Jesus to work in our lives and shape us more into the likeness of Christ.
Ultimately, daily devotions with Jesus are essential for nourishing the soul, strengthening spiritual resilience, and living a life rooted in faith, hope, and love.
Staying hydrated is essential for maintaining proper bodily function, preventing dehydration, supporting cognitive function, and boosting energy levels. I’m a big fan of water. If you need something extra or like a little flavor, add electrolytes.
Not drinking water, either by forgetting to or drinking too much coffee or other sugary drinks can leave us feeling depleted and dehydrated due to stress, changes in routine, and exposure to dry cabin air or hot climates. Especially while flying, drinking enough water can help you avoid those travel headaches that you get from recycled cabin air.
If you’re not already in the habit of drinking water, it’s a habit you can start developing now and your body will thank you for it. By choosing water over soda and sugary drinks, you can prevent headaches, improve digestion, maintain oral health, and enjoy long-term health benefits.
The amount of water you need will vary based on several factors such as age, activity level, and climate. As a general rule of thumb, it's a good idea to aim to drink minimum half of your body weight in ounces.
I like to split this up throughout the day and drink half of what I need by noon. Doing so, helps me make sure that by the end of the day, I've taken care of my body and stayed hydrated throughout the day.
Prioritizing quality sleep while traveling quality sleep is crucial for optimal health and functioning, yet traveling often disrupts our normal sleep patterns. Taking care of yourself in terms of getting enough sleep means that you have more energy to do the things that give you joy!
When we are traveling, several factors such as jet lag, unfamiliar sleeping environments, irregular schedules, and travel-related stress can make it difficult to get restorative sleep while on the road. Prioritizing quality sleep can enhance cognitive function, improve immune function, regulate mood, increase energy levels, and facilitate faster adjustment to time zone changes.
Sticking to a consistent sleep schedule helps regulate our body's internal clock, known as the circadian rhythm, which governs the sleep-wake cycle. When we maintain a regular bedtime and wake-up time, our bodies learn to anticipate when it's time to sleep and when it's time to wake up, leading to more restful and refreshing sleep.
Consistency in our sleep schedule also ensures that we get enough sleep each night, which is essential for optimal health and functioning. Additionally, a consistent sleep schedule helps synchronize our body's biological processes, such as hormone release and metabolism, contributing to overall well-being and vitality. Overall, sticking to a consistent sleep schedule promotes better sleep quality, enhances cognitive function, improves mood, and supports long-term health outcomes.
Hydration and quality sleep really are two essential pillars of health and to give those up simply because you’re out of town is a significant sacrifice. If you give up too much too often, your lifestyle will take its toll on your energy levels and overall health. You can get away with it for a short period of time (yes, I’ve done it too, and sometimes it’s unavoidable). However, a lack of sleep and dehydration always seems to catch up to me at some point.
Taking care of your health is a worthy investment in your future well-being, both in the short term and in the long term. Thinking long term means recognizing the cumulative effects of our lifestyle choices on our physical, mental, and emotional health over time. It involves making decisions today that will benefit us tomorrow and beyond.
YOU are important! Prioritizing your health by maintaining discipline in these two areas of drinking water and quality sleep can do amazing things in helping you stay healthy while traveling.
Just these three habits of prioritizing daily devotions, hydration, and sleep, can do so much for your body. You can prevent dehydration, support cognitive function, boost energy levels, improve immune function, regulate mood, and enhance your overall travel experience.
By taking proactive steps to care for our health, we empower ourselves to live longer, happier, and more vibrant lives, so that we continue to serve Jesus right where we are today. God has given each of us passions, goals, and dreams, and it’s going to take energy for us to pursue them!
Hydration and quality sleep have a massive impact on how you feel while traveling and prioritizing these two factors can significantly impact your overall health and enjoyment of your journey.
So, next time you're on the road, remember to drink plenty of water, choose water over sugary drinks, and prioritize quality sleep to stay healthy, happy, and energized throughout your journey. Safe travels and sweet dreams!
