We’re making it our mission to help you have healthy holidays so you can beat the flu this festive season – because getting sick on vacation is no fun!
Packing for the holidays often means packing on a few extra pounds around the waist, but this holiday we want to make sure you stay healthy and happy while having fun!
Here’s the thing about holidays… When we eat unhealthy things and slack on exercise, our immune system takes a knock too! Which often leads to us sitting in the doctor’s room on a beautiful sunny day when we should be at the beach!
Because we offer health insurance that pays you BEFORE you see the doctor, it’s simple, easy and affordable to have access to private healthcare with Oneplan. But no matter how awesome your health insurance plan is, going to the doctor and getting sick on holiday from eating badly and not sticking to our normal healthy routine is not exactly a fun time!
So, this holiday, we are changing things up a bit, no more extra holiday weight, no more getting sick when you should be getting a tan or swimming – this year it’s all about healthy holidays that are still fun!
Discover: Health Facts About Summer Fruits
Why is getting sick linked to diet and lifestyle?
Here’s the thing, when you eat your greens, veggies, drink enough water, exercise for at least 30 mins a day and get more than 7 hours of a sleep a day, your body thanks you for it. It does this by strengthening its natural system of defence against viruses and bacteria known as your immune system.
Now, if you are normally quite healthy, drink water and get enough sleep, then your immune system is healthy too. But, when you go on holiday and swap out water for a beer, sleep for late night jols, exercise for lying in the sun or on the couch and a salad for a burger – then your body takes a direct hit. This leaves your immune system in a bit of a state of shock and weakens it to other invading bacteria and viruses.
That’s why you get sick on holiday most of the time.
Our 10 Tips for Healthy Holidays
1. Travel healthy
If you are preparing a long road trip in your car, on the bus or even flying to get to where you are going, don’t opt for the packet of chips or takeaways on your trip, rather stay healthy and pack some healthy road trip snacks for you and your family.
2. Pack your workout wear!
Pack those gym leggings, walking shoes and a hat! Workout wear is something so many of us just forget or don’t want to pack, but with every holiday destination, there are great places to go for walks, runs, and even maybe go to some gym classes at the local gym!
3. Actively explore your surroundings
Going for lunch in town? Why not walk there? Walk around, explore, hike and discover the beautiful place you are staying in. Even if you are just visiting your old hometown, put on your walking shoes and walk to old friend’s houses or even to the shops! Get out there and get active!
4. Drink water then have a cocktail
Something so many of us forget to do when we are on holiday is drink enough water. And who can blame you? You don’t have a meeting to attend or a deadline to meet, why not treat yourself to a cold beer or cocktail? But the thing is, you can easily dehydrate yourself this way. Make sure you have had enough water to drink for the day before you treat yourself to something alcoholic.
Read this: No more food fights: 10 tips on fun & healthy food for kids
5. Don’t miss out on your beauty sleep
Staying up late with friends and family, having a jol or going to a party are all things that can lead us to miss out on some much-needed sleep. You’ve worked hard this year so give your body a break and let is rest and recover while on holiday. Make sure you get at least 7 hours of a sleep a night.
6. Don’t eat all the pudding
Your grandma’s fruit cake or your aunty’s malva pudding is a great treat and well-deserved. But make sure you are still including grains, proteins, veggies and fruits in your diet and not just pudding.
7. Soak up the sun
The sun is a great source of vitamin D! Make sure you only soak up some sun before 11 am and after 3 pm. You should spend about 15 minutes a day without sunblock on and then lather yourself in it to make sure you don’t get burned!
8. Workout and use nature as your gym
Go for a swim in the sea, run up a few sand dunes, try out a paddle boat or join a yoga class – make sure you stay active when on holiday!
Related: The Mental Health Benefits of Exercise: 6 Reasons to Break a Sweat
9. Keep cool
Although a run on the beach is a great way to stay fit, you need to make sure that you are not running when it is too hot as this can lead to heat stroke or dehydration. Make sure you hydrate and keep cool when exercising outside.
10. Make small changes every day
The trick is to make health and fitness a part of your everyday life. Eating healthy and staying fit – it should be a habit and not a chore. Fad diets just don’t work and staying healthy should be a priority, not a quick fix solution.
Enjoy your healthy holidays, and make sure you’re covered for unexpected accidents & illnesses with Oneplan.
Your Health Family,
Oneplan
