Salud
TRAVEL
HEALTHY
BY A N G EL I C A G AVA L D O N
I
have travelled my whole life, not for pleasure (well,
some of it has been…), but mostly for competing
in professional tennis tours. My career demanded
that I be in Japan one day, and two days later, I was
waking up in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Was it fun? NOT
at all, it was work! However, I was passionate about it, very
disciplined, and driven, so I succeeded.
By travelling, I learned to stay calm at busy airports, to adapt
to different time zones, manage jet lag, and to stay healthy, but
most of all I learned to always expect the unexpected. After
all, no matter how much we try to plan everything perfectly, life
happens.
Here are my best personal tips to enjoy your travel and make it
stress-free:
1. Pack Ahead of Time
I was on the road every day of the year, so I really never had
to unpack a bag. I would be home for maybe two or three
days, then leave again on tour for months at a time. When I
was home, I made sure my bag was always ready to go, so I
would not forget anything last minute. Now, when I travel with
family, if our flight is on a Friday, I start packing the week before
- instead of the night before. I make sure all my toiletries and
medications are in their Ziploc bags and ready to go.
Every day something new pops in my head that I need to take,
so I neatly go and pack it. The night before everything is set, so
packing is stress-free!
2. Leave Early, Arrive Early
One of the biggest stressors in life is when we are rushing. I
would rather be one hour early than right on time. Yes, that
might be a little extreme, but you never know what you will
come across - traffic, accidents, or long security lines, the
possibilities are endless. If I give myself plenty of time, I will
not be sweating on the way to the airport or trying to use my
athletic ability sprinting to the gate. No thank you!
Instead, I get there early and sit and read before I board my
flight. If you have anyone in your family that is always slowing
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everyone down, set the clocks in the house 10 minutes ahead
of time (Hide their cellphone too…). That way, they will think it
is later than it really is, and you can get out the door on time.
3. Prepare In-Flight Necessities for Kids
I plan ahead and make sure I have enough snacks and
medications on hand for my son that has severe food allergies.
I also make sure I have brought along plenty of entertainment
for him - sketch books, markers, favorite small toys and an
iPad. You never know what can happen mid-air and you want
to be prepared, but I do love how most airlines now have so
many kid-friendly entertainment options, making it much more
manageable.
4. Cozy Socks, Sweaters and Water
Even if I am travelling to a tropical place, I will freeze on the
airplane. So, I like to make sure I have a pair of warm socks
and my favorite sweater-blanket with me. I also like to drink
plenty of water, those little glasses on the plane just don’t cut
it for me. Once I am inside the terminal, I buy big bottle of
water. It also helps you stay hydrated, so you do not feel so
exhausted.
5. Expect the Worst; Hope for the Best
If we always think everything will fall into place perfectly, we will
be extremely disappointed. Travelling is full of delayed flights,
busy airports, annoying travelers, foul airplane smells, lost
luggage, etc. Unfortunately, it all comes with the territory, but
try to just stay in the moment. When things would not go as
planned, my beautiful father who travelled with me a lot would
tell me, ‘Mijita son aventuras de la vida’, meaning, “My love, it’s
life’s adventures”, which always made me feel better.
Hopefully these tips will help you avoid some of the most
common headaches of traveling and allow you to make the
most of every trip, whether it’s for work or for fun.