Traveling Safely - Part Two of Four. Travel Hygiene Best Practices

What hygiene best practices do you need to follow while traveling?

Typically we all follow a set of hygiene practices that are part of our normal routine - washing our hands before a meal and after using the restroom, taking a shower, wearing clean clothes, etc - but when you are traveling and in a new environment, adopting and taking a mental note to complete some of these hygiene basics will help keep you and your family cleaner, and hopefully less likely to take home some germs as an extra souvenir.  

Let's go over the basics:

• Washing our hands is something we have all been practicing a lot over the past year.  Make sure you wash your hands frequently and for at least 20 seconds with hot soapy water.  The CDC says that something as simple as remembering to wash your hands can prevent about twenty percent of respiratory infections.  Make sure you keep the area under your nails clean too - this is easier if you keep your nails clipped.  

 

• Stay hydrated - drinking water will keep your body hydrated and help flush bacteria out of your system before it gets the chance to take root and do some serious damage to your insides.  How much water should you be drinking every day?  WebMD suggests it may vary from person to person, but a good rule of thumb is 9 cups for women and 13 cups for men.  If your vacation is adventurous and you are out in the warmer climates, amp that amount up to compensate for the extra work your body is doing!

 

• Shower every day if possible - we have heard how often we need to be washing our hands, but we haven't heard as much about the need to shower more frequently too.  Even if you're on a solo trip hiking through the mountains, taking a shower to wash the days' sweat and bacteria off your body will be helpful in the long run.  I know we're told we don't need to wash our hair every day - but it doesn't mean your body is the same.  Besides, if you've been out running around theme parks all day in 100% humidity, chances are you are wanting to take more than one shower per day!

 

• Brush your teeth at least twice a day - if you are on the go all day long, having some disposable tooth brushes packed will help keep your mouth clean.  Your dentist will thank you, and you'll be keeping the germs in your mouth to a minimum.  

 

• Get your beauty rest!  Making sure you get a proper night's sleep is huge for your health.  Getting restful sleep - at least 7 hours - will keep your immune system healthy and you'll wake up feeling refreshed and ready to tackle a new day!

 

• Pack a little less light....previous to Covid when I packed for my vacations I did everything I could to make sure certain pants/shorts and even some shirts could mix and match for multiple wears.  I prefer to pack light, but when I think about the germs we encounter each day on our trips, I'd prefer to start each day with a fresh set of clothes.  In my article last week, I suggested packing a laundry bag - this helps keep your dirty and worn clothing separate from your clean clothes.  

 

• Remember to pack your essentials!  Last week we went over the essentials to pack for traveling.  If you need a refresher, click HERE

We all have our own routines and essentials - this list is meant to help guide you when creating your own list and routines.  Every destination may have it's own set of challenges - whether you are headed to a romantic getaway or taking a family vacation to Orlando, planning ahead is half the battle!  It is possible to travel safely - often while traveling we are more cognizant of our safe habits and are more careful than when we are in our hometowns.  

Next week I'm going to be talking about Travel Procedures and Restrictions currently in place.  Thank you to those that have been sending in questions to include in Part 4 - Travel FAQ!  If you have questions, feel free to use the link on the side to email me!

When you are ready to start planning your next adventure, I'd love to help!  Click the link on the side to get a personalized quote for your next vacation.