Self-Care While Traveling

Self-care has become a bit of a buzzword lately, but for good reason. The pace of modern life and its demands makes it difficult for most of us to prioritize rest and caring for anything beyond a to do list. Self-care can be hard to practice in general but especially if you are traveling often or living full time on the road in your RV. So, we wanted to share some ways to practice self-care while traveling.

The idea of self-care might conjure images of being at a spa with a fancy drink in hand and while it might look that way for some, the meaning is very different. A dictionary definition of self-care defines it as “the practice of taking an active role in protecting one's own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress, as well as “the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one's own health.” This extends to mental and emotional health as well as physical. It is important to remember to care for yourself, whether at home or on the road.

Ways to practice self-care

• Read: Whether it’s a well-worn paperback or a digital copy on your kindle or iPad, reading is a great way to unwind from your day. 
• Journal: Writing about what your experiencing whether it’s documenting the details of your environment or simply how something made you feel gives you time to process and destress.
• Go Outside: Going outside and getting a good dose of vitamin D does a lot to improve your mood and overall health. Try taking a short walk to stretch your legs or drinking your morning coffee outside.
• Create omething: Creativity is good for the mind and body. Try baking something, or picking up your camera, or maybe grabbing a sketchbook and some cheap art supplies or a calming coloring book.
• Sleep: Many traveler’s like to hit the road early and see all the sights but it’s important to get enough sleep and try having one day dedicated to sleeping in.
• Connect with People Back Home: Traveling can sometimes be lonely, so stay connected with your family and friends back home. Use Skype, Zoom or Facetime to feel like you are talking face to face.
• Take a Slow Travel Day: If you find yourself cramming every second of the day, you might need a slow travel day. Go for a walk with no destination in your mind, sleep in, linger over a meal, sit and journal by a body of water, “slow” is the theme for this day.  

Self-care doesn’t have to be expensive. You can absolutely indulge in a special meal, event, or experience. But there are also small mindful ways to incorporate care into your time spent traveling and even time spent at home. Sometimes you just have to give yourself permission to take a break, walk, have a cup of coffee, and slow down. And of course, one of our favorite ways to practice self-care is to travel! We hope you enjoyed this post on self-care while you travel. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.