It may be the “most wonderful time of the year,” but it is not the most wonderful season for health and wellness. Beginning with Halloween and moving all of the way through the New Year, most of us face a lot of challenges to our health.
As a simple example, consider these issues:
- Bad diet – From those “leftover” Halloween candies to the endless array of sweets and seasonal treats that appear throughout Thanksgiving, Christmas and into the New Year, your diet is packed with sugar and lots of unhealthy fats.
- Weather – Whether it is the shorter hours of daylight, the dry indoor heat, the blistering cold wind, or the wet rain or snow, you may feel fatigued, dried out and unhappy from weather alone!
- Stress – Deadlines, shopping, crowds, family pressures, parties…there is a lot to deal with from now and well into the New Year, and that can take a toll on you.
And yet, among all of these things, there is one issue that can really take it out of you – travel. Whether you are driving, flying, taking a train or a combination of it all, you need to give yourself a bit of comfort. So, we’ve opted to look at just one thing you can do for yourself this season, and that is find the perfect outfit to wear if you are flying (as well as driving or just sitting on someone else’s sofa) during the holidays!
Top Tips for Healthy, Comfortable Travel
If you are like millions of others, you may have contemplated going the super-comfortable route for travel. However, pajamas (or clothing almost, but not quite pajamas) on an airplane is actually an unhealthy choice. Not only will things like cuffs of loose and baggy pants track through who-knows-what, but indoor clothing and lounge clothing is not the best for a good travel experience.
Instead, take our tips for making the right choices (and you’ll even look stylish):
- Think billowy or roomy tops with more fitted bottoms – Whether you pair a fashion forward dress with a pair of compression leggings or you wear nicely fitted pants with a tunic, the point here is to ensure you get the pajama-like coziness in your outfit without the risks of pajamas. You will be surprised at how many options you can find in this sort of pairing, and you’ll never regret investing in a good set of garments with such style.
- Go for non-synthetic and breathable materials – Organic and cotton clothing can often be the most breathable and you can even find choices that wick away moisture and sweat. This keeps you comfortable and fresh, and you will find options like stylish leggings or oversized t-shirts that can be worn comfortably as well as stylishly.
- Invest in socks…compression socks – Whether flying or just drying for a lengthy period, you need to pay attention to circulation. There is nothing worse than landing or arriving at a destination to feet too swollen to fit comfortably into a winter boot or shoe. Compression socks help to keep fluids from sinking to the lowest part of the body and can even combat health risks like DVT (deep vein thrombosis).
- Think layers – I agree whole heartedly with one expert who said that travel is “often an assemblage of various disparate micro-climates, from the sweat-inducing sunny tarmac to the arctic air-conditioned cabin during flight” and then the different conditions in cars, businesses and other people’s homes. So, to combat this, you’ll need to master the art of dressing in layers. One way to do this is to think of double-duty pieces. For example, a shawl is a nice bit of style AND a functional layer. Three layers is a good way to keep yourself under control, comfortable and stylish, i.e. a top, a sweater or light jacket, and a scarf or shawl.
- Simple shoes – It can be tempting to travel in your hottest heels or those trendy shoes, but in reality, the demands of travel mean that shoes that pop off and on easily (even if your feet are a bit swollen) are the best. You can opt for ballet flats or Keds-style sneakers. Tom’s shoes are also great for ease and comfort, and UGGs boots are a classic with good looks and easy on-off wearing.
- Think pockets – If you are wise and can travel super light (i.e. you go the carry-on only route) or you want a single bag for your holiday travel, pockets are your new best friend. There are more and more garments that are starting to serve double duty as a replacement for a carry on (or even as a slick way to take more without bringing another bag). There are travel vests and jackets that have several pockets sized for sunglasses, phones, passports, IDs, a few toiletries, and more. Perfect for foiling a pick pocket, such garments also let you travel with far fewer bags to worry about and yet also looking pretty stylish.
- A good sleep mask and ear plugs – Technically, this is not what you’d wear, but if you have yet to try to sleep on a plane without a mask and earplugs, you may be delighted by the impact such a simple add-on can provide. A good mask blocks even the smallest amount of light, and when paired with even low-cost ear plugs (or premium sound blocking headphones), it can help you to nod off on even the noisiest and brightest flights. Pair it all up with a good neck pillow and you may not dread travel ever again.
And remember the importance of remaining hydrated and moisturized at all times – whether in the skies or on the ground. One of the biggest problems with holiday travel is that we get sick easily, become grouchy from the crowds and heat, and end up unhappy for hours at a stretch. You can avoid this by eating well, drinking lots of decaffeinated fluids and dressing in a way that makes you comfortable at all times. The tips here should help and you should soon enjoy one of your most relaxed travel experiences ever!
