Travel Tips for Summer

Summer is a time for holidays! It is the time of year where a lot of people get the opportunity to get away from home and travel. Unfortunately if we are not prepared, travel can be very hard on our bodies. Spending hours on end in the car or on a plane, sleeping in different beds and sitting on different couches can leave us feeling tight and sore during or after our trip.

Add in a bit of stress thanks to Christmas, family, managing itineraries and bookings, and our bodies really start to feel the strain. 
So we are here with our favourite travel tips and tricks to get you ready to head off on holiday and have a relaxing time. 

• Plan it in advance! Write out lists of what you need to pack and save them somewhere so you can pull it out next time (and add the 5 things you inevitably forgot).

 

• Plan for the travel time, including delays: Make sure you have snacks (Hangry kids are just as annoying as Melbourne traffic), plenty of water and a game or two for the car.
  
  
  
• Look after yourself on the trip: Make sure you are wriggling your bum every 15 minutes or so and checking in on your posture (see below if you need some more tips on this!). Plan to get out of the car and have regular breaks, or walk up and down the aisle if you’re on a plane/train/bus.
  
  
  
• Look after your sleep! Our brain’s are really clever, they know when we are sleeping somewhere other than our normal bed and will be more alert to different sounds and ambient lights. Go to bed at a reasonable time and consider a breathing exercise before bed to help wind down - yes! Even on holidays.
  
  
  
• Leave yourself time to recover. This is so important, if you are going back to work on Monday at 8am, don’t plan on getting home at midnight the night before. Give yourself the day off to meal prep, wash everything up and wind down after the travel home from the holiday.

Holidays are meant to be fun and help us wind down, but we can’t enjoy the time away from work or school if we are uncomfortable or in pain. Don’t let your posture become a pain in the neck or back. 
Here are our 5 top tips to help prevent poor travel posture:

1. Use a lumbar support - Place a jumper or rolled up towel behind the arch of your lower back to keep you more upright and prevent slouching.
2. Remind yourself to sit up straight – If you’re the driver, sit up as straight as possible and adjust the rearview mirror to this position. As you start to slouch you will see less of the road in the mirror. This acts as a reminder to correct your posture
3. Perform in seat exercises– Exercises such as ankle figure 8’s, shoulder shrugs, glut squeezes and neck rolling help promote circulation and prevent muscle tightness
4. Don’t sit on your legs or put your feet up on the seat – These positions shorten the muscles in your hips and knees and will make you feel stiff when you go to stand up. They can also compress blood vessels and nerves to give you pins and needles.
5. Watch your bag - Use a wheelie suitcase instead of lifting and carrying a bag. Additionally, pack as light as possible to help minimise carrying any extra weight.  

We hope you find these tips useful in making the most of your holidays!