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Go Backpacking > Features > Pre-Travel Planning and Post-Travel Recovery Tips

Pre-Travel Planning and Post-Travel Recovery Tips

January 11, 2021 By Kyle Rosner Leave a Comment

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Bose noise-cancelling headphones on Norwegian flight
Bose headphones (photo: David Lee)

Whether you fly, drive, or take a train, traveling can be an exhausting experience that can leave you feeling mentally and physically strained.

Between jet lag, cramped seating, and long hours of sitting still, traveling can be a pretty miserable experience.

Add travel anxiety or stress to the mix, and you’ve got the perfect cocktail for fatigue.

Here, we’re going to share a few tips to help you stay happy and healthy the next time you travel with simple tricks like basic breathing exercises and using CBD for muscle recovery and relaxation. 

Double-Check Your Pre-Flight Checklist

While time zone changes and long-hours spent traveling can contribute to fatigue, many people underestimate the role stress plays in causing the post-travel slump.

One of the easiest ways to reduce your stress and set yourself up for a pleasant traveling experience is to take time to plan the journey. 

Create a simple checklist that includes all the things you want to bring with you to help yourself keep track of all of your items, and feel more prepared.

Some of our must-have travel items include: 

  • CBD for muscle recovery
  • Gum to prevent ear popping
  • Phone charger and headphones
  • Nuts or jerky for brain power
  • Travel pillow
  • Eye mask for sleeping during the travels

Pre-Travel Wellness Tips

Want to set yourself up for success at the other end of your journey?

Try to address your wellness before the trip even begins.

You’ll want to be sure to give both your body and mind what they need to remain calm and comfortable throughout the journey, so don’t be afraid to indulge yourself in extra comfort. 

Water bottle refill station
Water station (photo: David Lee)

Eat & Hydrate

Hunger and dehydration are two surefire ways to ruin your traveling experience, so before you hit the road or board your plane, be sure to eat a good meal and drink plenty of water.

Traveling can quickly dry you out, especially if you are flying and sitting in recirculated air for hours on end.

Drinking plenty of water beforehand will help you stay hydrated during the journey and ward off fatigue and muscle soreness. 

Use A Sleep Aid

Longer journeys naturally cause more exhaustion, but if you can rest during the trip, you’ll find that recovery afterward becomes much easier.

Sleeping while traveling can be difficult, especially if you need to sit upright or wear a seatbelt the entire time.

Try using a CBD sleep shot that combines relaxing hemp extract with sleep-inducing melatonin to help you sleep comfortably.  

Can You Travel with CBD Oil?

If you are looking to travel with CBD, then make sure you are taking the proper precautions.

Based on TSA guidelines, you can travel with CBD oil within the US as long as it does not contain more than 0.3% THC, but because some states still ban CBD products, you may want to reconsider if you are traveling to a region with more restrictions.

In general, TSA doesn’t look for items like cannabis, but that doesn’t mean you want to be caught carrying a joint through security.

If your CBD contains less than 0.3% THC, you probably have nothing to worry about when traveling, but as always, travel at your own risk. 

Contemplation (photo: Ben White)

Post-Travel Wellness Tips

Once you reach your destination and can step off the plane, out of the car, or off the train, you may not realize that there is still more to be done to ensure you stay healthy.

Soreness, illness, and fatigue from travel can set in days after you arrive, and aches and pains can sneak up on you overnight from sitting in cramped positions.

Luckily, there are a few easy ways to help yourself recover more quickly after you travel.

Do Some Stretching

Sitting for long hours will have your body feeling stiff and cramped, but with a few easy stretches, you can ward off tightness and help to reinvigorate your energy.

At the end of your journey, try stretching your back, arms, legs, neck, and shoulders for 10-15 minutes, or performing a quick yoga sequence of your choice. 

Breathing Exercises

To help you shed some of the mental stress and exhaustion of travel, try some basic breathing exercises once you have reached your destination.

Here’s a simple one to try: 

  1. Sit in a comfortable position and relax your shoulders
  2. Breathe in slowly through your nose, allowing your chest to rise as you inhale
  3. Once your lungs are full, exhale through your mouth, pursing your lips slightly to make a quiet ‘whooshing’ sound
  4. Repeat with eyes closed, focusing on the movement of your breath

CBD Balms & Creams

Sometimes even a good stretch isn’t enough to shake stiff muscles and soreness, and that’s when you break out the CBD for muscle recovery. Rubbing CBD creams and balms into sore muscles can help reduce tension, improve pain, improve circulation, and promote full-body relaxation and rejuvenating rest.

The first night after your trip, try combining a CBD cream massage with a dose of CBD sleep aid to jumpstart your recovery overnight.

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This story was brought to you in partnership with Tribe CBD.

Planning a trip? Go Backpacking uses and recommends:

  • G Adventures for small group tours
  • Skyscanner for researching flights
  • Hostelworld for booking hostels
  • Airbnb for renting rooms and homes
  • Rail Europe for train passes
  • World Nomads for travel insurance

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Filed Under: Features, Travel Health & Insurance

About Kyle Rosner

When not working for his agency 420interactive, Kyle is constantly researching (consuming) the latest in filmmaking and pop culture, playing tennis, or enjoying long walks with tokes on the San Diego beach.

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