5 Tips for a Healthy Adventure and Wilderness Travel Lifestyle
As we start a new year, I thought I’d gather a few tips that have helped me lead an active lifestyle. I have had many occasions of spending full days in the mountains, to explore the wilderness in a self-propelled manner, away from crowds, rarely solo, often with a partner(s).
These tips are on how to be your best of health – physical and mental – that I practice and have served me well so you too can enjoy a lifetime of adventures and travels. Of course this list is longer and should include sleep and relationships but let’s start with these five.
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- Hydrate:
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After a day or two spent on wilderness adventures or discovering the mountains then a night spent sleeping inside with closed windows and the heat going (during winter), you need to start your day by rehydrating your body. This will kick off your system on many aspects as it’s been depleted during the night while working hard at renewing your body’s many cells. Thank your body with a glass of water or two. Add some lemon and salt as Aubrey Marcus suggests in his book “Own the Day, Own your life”
He has many great tips on how to live an active life with his choose-your-own-adventure guide.
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- Stretch:
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You wake up feeling stiff today which reminds you that the day before – you were on this great outdoors adventure with your best friend. Now you can barely move. Off course, your muscles tighten as they recover and before you head out the door for your work or sit for long hours at your desk for work, I suggest you take the time to thank your body for having served you this well by a simple stretching routine. Focus on the muscles used.. and those connected to them. Do it on regular basis, you will feel so much better!
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- Eat what energizes you:
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For many years, I have followed the main stream diet. In Europe it’s bread, butter and jam maybe some fruit, often dairy products. In North America, it’s cereals, muffins, bagels, bread etc. I spent many years with low energy after eating breakfast (especially in N.A.) until I understood I was eating food that saps my energy when it should be giving me energy.
You are what you eat and energy is life are two of my favorite mottos.
Find what foods work for you, write a journal to keep track and how you feel before and after eating meal or type of food. We are all so different in our genes, blood types, lifestyles, diets etc.. Do a bit of research and you might be surprised by what you find out! A book that helped me many years ago was “Eat Right For Your Blood Type”
Gerry swears by a book called “The Omnivore’s Dilemma”.. which I yet have to read as I have a few on my To Read list yet. (not all dietary related.)
There are many books out there, don’t make of one your religion, be open minded as each can bring you tips that will help you live your life to the fullest. And you need to live it to the fullest: the mountains and trekking off-the beaten trails are calling and you must go! 😊
Note that dietary restrictions aren’t something weird or unknown these days. When you join our trips, know that we understand and respect your dietary needs and will accommodate as much as we can.
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- Find a fitness routine that works for you:
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For your day, for your week, for your lifestyle. Each of us have different times during the day when we are the most efficient. Some are morning persons; some are evening persons. Know yourself, your daily work / life routine and when exercising seems to bring the best results.
Per example, I cannot do a high cardio workout too late in the day else my heart gets pumping until after midnight. I do best with a mid-day workout as it brings blood flow and thus oxygen to my brain cells and body and this energizes me for the rest of the day.
Fitness can be anything from a daily walk in the neighborhood park, a 20-30 min. stretching or yoga session, a snowshoe trip, a day out hiking with your best friends or with us.. the list goes on, see what we offer on our Destination page.
Just make sure that during this time
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- You turn your cell phone off or keep it somewhere you can’t access it,
- You breathe long deep breath,
- You focus on the moment and not on your never ending To Do list. You’ll be back at it soon enough. And will feel much better tackling that list then.
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- Avoid watching or reading too much news, disconnect to reconnect:
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What we watch and read impacts our outlook on life there is no denying. It is unfortunately quite rare to find positive or uplifting news so choose how long and how often and consume carefully. During pandemic times I asked a psychologist I know and her answer was: not more than 30min/day.
Also, our cellphones seem to be the “jack-of-all trades” these days. We do everything with them from reading emails to following our favorite people, connecting with some or learning about interesting places or overseas adventure travel etc.. to ordering anything we wish and being entertained. Overall, cellphones and technology have brought us great advantages but, in the process, some of us have become addicted.
My best times outdoors are when I am on a great adventure disconnected with absolutely no way to get wifi (nor data!) and I can truly connect with the people and beautiful natural environment surrounding me. If you haven’t experienced this yet, I suggest you contact us so you can try. Careful this too becomes addictive! 😉
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