7 Essential Activities to Avoid in the Week Before International Travel
7 Essential Activities to Avoid in the Week Before International Travel - Skip Any Intense HIIT or Gym Workout Session to Prevent Travel Day Muscle Soreness
In the immediate lead-up to your international flight, avoid pushing your physical limits with intense HIIT or heavy gym work. These sessions can easily backfire, causing muscle soreness and fatigue just when you need to be feeling your best. It's not about giving up on exercise; instead, swap out those high-impact routines for something lighter and gentler. Think casual walks, leisurely bike rides, or some stretching and yoga - things that keep you moving without causing excessive strain. Remember, how you treat your body in the days before travel is just as important as your packing list. Stay hydrated and eat well, which are fundamental parts of proper muscle recovery. Choosing recovery over intense physical exertion prepares you for your trip and ensures you aren't hampered by aching muscles.
Pushing yourself with hard gym sessions or HIIT workouts close to your departure date might seem like a good idea, but could in fact undermine your travel experience. Consider the science: delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), which is caused by micro-tears in muscle tissue, tends to peak between 24 and 72 hours post-exercise, precisely when you might be boarding a plane or dragging luggage. Studies indicate eccentric exercises, common in many HIIT routines, can result in enough muscle damage to hamper your body's ability to perform under physical duress, not ideal for airport sprints or hotel check-in lines. It appears even moderately intense workouts can, temporarily, affect the immune system making you slightly more vulnerable to bugs just before you travel. We know the effects of an intense session can linger, making you stiffer and less nimble, and those hours in a tight airline seat already impair circulation and movement. Adding pre-travel strain might increase discomfort in flight. Research highlights that the body's nutrient absorption may be reduced following strenuous exercise, not great when needing energy reserves for your travels. Moreover, elevated stress hormones post-workout may contribute to anxiety and general discomfort associated with travel which is often stressful enough. Interestingly, less intense, regular activity has demonstrated ability to maintain fitness without the negative effects of muscle soreness. Consider how flight also leads to dehydration, and intense exercise just before will only exacerbate those dehydration issues and make your feel sluggish. You would not expect a professional athlete to do heavy training before a big game; a similar logic may well apply to pre-travel preparation to ensure a more enjoyable experience.
What else is in this post?
- 7 Essential Activities to Avoid in the Week Before International Travel - Skip Any Intense HIIT or Gym Workout Session to Prevent Travel Day Muscle Soreness
- 7 Essential Activities to Avoid in the Week Before International Travel - Delay Getting That New Exotic Food Delivery as Unfamiliar Foods Can Upset Your System
- 7 Essential Activities to Avoid in the Week Before International Travel - Avoid Starting Any Netflix Series Marathon That Could Impact Your Sleep Schedule
- 7 Essential Activities to Avoid in the Week Before International Travel - Pass on Scheduling Last Minute Dental Work or Medical Procedures
- 7 Essential Activities to Avoid in the Week Before International Travel - Stay Away From Booking Additional Side Trips or Tours
- 7 Essential Activities to Avoid in the Week Before International Travel - Do Not Accept New Work Projects or Assignments
- 7 Essential Activities to Avoid in the Week Before International Travel - Skip Testing New Skincare Products or Hair Treatments That Might Cause Reactions
7 Essential Activities to Avoid in the Week Before International Travel - Delay Getting That New Exotic Food Delivery as Unfamiliar Foods Can Upset Your System
Delaying that new exotic food delivery before your upcoming international trip is a wise choice, as unfamiliar foods can disrupt your digestive system at a time when you want to feel your best. While the urge to experiment with exciting new flavors might be strong, trying out a new and perhaps spicy cuisine right before you travel carries the risk of an upset stomach that might spoil those first few days of exploring new places. Opting for reliable, familiar meals in the week before your flight gives your system predictability and helps avoid any unpleasant surprises or discomfort. Prioritize your health by keeping your diet consistent as this will contribute to a smoother travel experience, and a less eventful time as you transition to your destination.
Consider delaying that exotic food delivery when gearing up for your next international adventure. It's a matter of internal stability as much as external readiness. Your body's digestive system, a complex and finely tuned ecosystem, may not appreciate sudden culinary surprises, particularly when you are about to enter a new environment. Think of it as a temporary truce you make with your gut before setting off. Introducing strange and new flavors immediately before departure poses a potential risk of internal disruption, especially if they are radically different from what your system is used to. Research shows that it can take weeks for the gut microbiome to adapt. An ill-prepared digestive system struggling with new spices or ingredients, while you’re in transit, is not the ideal start to any journey.
Also note that new foods might bring along unwanted risks related to undiagnosed allergies. Furthermore, unique ingredients often require your body to adjust its enzyme production to properly break them down, and this process can be turbulent and cause distress. Keep in mind that the human body does not always take to these challenges in stride; unusual food might trigger stress responses, elevating cortisol, which not only causes anxiety but might compromise the balance of your mental and emotional state just when you need it to be steady. Additionally, many exotic dishes may contain higher amounts of sodium and sugar, potentially contributing to dehydration, which is already a significant travel concern. Do not undermine your trip with needless potential problems, such as bloating, discomfort or even the disruption to the gut-brain connection which, in turn, could affect your mood. In a practical sense it might be a good idea to maintain a stable diet and give your body a chance to adjust and strengthen before embarking on travel which can sometimes place extra burdens on the system.
Consider that differing culinary practices and hygiene standards across cultures mean that it’s not just the new ingredients to contend with but the unfamiliar food preparation techniques also. Be aware that you could be inadvertently exposing yourself to foodborne illnesses that may compromise the start of your trip or, worse, while you are away. While culinary exploration is a wonderful part of travel, consider giving your body a break before departure so it may be best positioned to manage the changes travel brings rather than facing internal disruption just as you step away from your home comfort zone.
7 Essential Activities to Avoid in the Week Before International Travel - Avoid Starting Any Netflix Series Marathon That Could Impact Your Sleep Schedule
Avoiding Netflix binges in the days before your international flight is essential for a better trip, especially when you are likely to cross time zones. Deep dives into a series tend to push back bedtime, leading to sleep debt and messing with your body clock. The screen's light also disrupts the sleep hormone melatonin, making it harder to fall asleep properly. It’s best to limit your viewing and opt for quieter pre-bedtime activities to help secure proper rest and more readily adjust to any new destination upon arrival. The best strategy could be to perhaps save that series you've been keen on for your post-trip downtime when you do not need to worry about a demanding travel schedule. Prioritizing consistent rest is something that can help with easing any potential stress, adapting to new schedules and time zones when you arrive and therefore contribute to more enjoyable travel experience.
Engaging in a late night Netflix series marathon before international travel can heavily disturb your sleep patterns which have a large influence on the body’s circadian rhythm. Binge-watching episodes into the night means you’re not only pushing your bedtime later, but also shortening the total hours of sleep you can expect. The light from your screens further interferes with the natural production of sleep-inducing hormones, so you end up having a harder time falling asleep and potentially develop long-term sleeping issues. Experts suggest a screen-free window of a couple of hours before sleep in order to encourage higher quality rest.
When it comes to preparing for international travel it is key to remember there are several things to avoid in the week before departure that will help your journey go much more smoothly. Starting a new Netflix show right before your flight is one such example. The accumulated sleep deficit from a late night marathon can have a cascade of unwanted effects, leaving you exhausted and reducing your level of attentiveness. Remember it is crucial to be alert as you start your journey. Research suggests that lacking sleep will affect your memory, your ability to concentrate as well as your decision making processes, so you may struggle in new environments or while making critical decisions during your travels. It has also been shown that lack of sleep will increase stress and produce higher levels of the hormone cortisol. The benefits of starting your trip in a relaxed state include reduced stress in airport lines and an enhanced ability to make sound judgments.
Do keep in mind, it’s not simply about clocking in more hours of sleep – it is all about sleep quality. Late night series consumption can greatly diminish the quality of your rest cycles which include essential phases like REM and deep sleep, responsible for mental restoration. As a consequence of starting your trip with reduced mental recovery, you may feel mentally depleted, making it hard to engage socially. Even just a single night of poor sleep has been shown to slow down reaction time, making it difficult to react in busy airports or to make quick driving decisions in new places. If you are already sleep deprived as you embark on your travel, it can exacerbate the effects of jet lag further, making the process of adapting to different time zones much harder. As well, those effects of cumulative lack of sleep can result in greater levels of fatigue which will ultimately reduce your desire or capacity to explore as you arrive at your destination. It is worth noting that prolonged periods of poor sleep have been shown to be linked to health problems and weakened immune systems. If your immunity is low from sleep deprivation you are increasing the chances of getting ill while traveling and potentially ruining your trip.
7 Essential Activities to Avoid in the Week Before International Travel - Pass on Scheduling Last Minute Dental Work or Medical Procedures
In the week before you head off on that international flight, it’s wise to avoid scheduling any last-minute dental appointments or medical procedures. The trouble with such plans is that you just don’t know how your body might react and you might experience complications, such as swelling or pain at the worst time possible. These unexpected medical issues might force you to adjust your plans significantly. Instead, concentrate on the vital preparations: checking your booking, sorting out your travel documents, and ensuring your health. The goal here is to guarantee you are in peak form mentally and physically so that you're ready for the challenges of travel. A smoother, hassle-free journey is what you're after, and avoiding last-minute medical uncertainties contributes significantly to that. Consider it a strategic choice to keep your well-being in check as the last few days before you leave are crucial to ensure that first day at your destination does not start with unnecessary worries.
Here are some overlooked aspects on the decision to postpone last-minute dental or medical procedures before international journeys, analyzed with a skeptical lens:
1. **Amplified Anxiety Factor**: Research suggests that undergoing any kind of medical treatment can markedly increase one's anxiety, a condition best avoided prior to navigating long-haul flights. Heightened anxiety triggers the release of cortisol, potentially suppressing the immune system at a time when you need it to be robust.
2. **Extended Recovery Periods**: The human body's healing process may be prolonged due to the unique challenges of travel. Studies have shown that patients might experience extended recovery durations following a procedure if simultaneously adapting to time zone shifts or lengthy travel durations.
3. **Compromised Immunity**: Engaging in surgical treatments can temporarily reduce the efficacy of the immune system as bodily resources shift focus towards healing. Given that the confines of air travel can expose you to increased germ loads, this heightens the possibility of illness just before your trip commences.
4. **Post-procedure Implications**: Standard post-treatment issues like swelling, bruising or mild discomfort may be exacerbated by the less-than-optimal conditions of airline travel. Therefore it may be best to avoid elective medical and dental interventions immediately before departure.
5. **Travel Insurance Loopholes**: Travel insurance agreements might not cover complications arising from elective procedures if done right before your travel dates. This leaves the traveler to shoulder all financial burden for any possible unwanted medical results, which may be a wise consideration.
6. **Complex Medication Schedules**: Many treatments include medications that require administration at specific times. The shifting time zones and the disruption of airline travel can complicate the strict adherence to these medication schedules which adds unnecessary complications to a potential recovery.
7. **Increased DVT Risk**: After many surgical procedures, prolonged periods of inactivity increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis, especially with long-haul flights just after such procedure.
8. **Effects of Altitude**: Some dental work, particularly those involving sinus areas or tooth extractions, can be negatively affected by pressure changes during air travel potentially resulting in unforeseen discomfort during a flight.
9. **Unexpected Aftercare**: Various procedures call for check-up appointments and care that may not be easy to manage abroad. Scheduling work just before travel can leave the traveler attempting to locate local care, which may not always be easy.
10. **Taste Disruptions**: Certain dental interventions can temporarily alter one's taste sensations. If your trip was planned to indulge in new culinary experiences, having procedures right beforehand may reduce your ability to fully enjoy the local food – which for many people is one of the highlights of international travel.
7 Essential Activities to Avoid in the Week Before International Travel - Stay Away From Booking Additional Side Trips or Tours
In the final week before your international adventure, avoid the urge to book any extra side trips or tours. These last-minute add-ons can easily become a source of stress and introduce logistical nightmares, distracting from the actual journey you've been anticipating. Planning these activities well ahead of time is key, especially during peak travel times, to ensure your trip goes smoothly. Instead of cramming more into your schedule, prioritize the necessary preparations for your primary destination, such as confirming your reservations, making sure you pack appropriately and being physically ready for travel. By skipping any impulse side trips, you’re setting the stage for a far more relaxed and enjoyable trip that might otherwise be riddled with unneccesary difficulties.
Avoid scheduling additional side trips or tours in the week directly before your international flight. These last-minute add-ons have a tendency to introduce unnecessary complications and stress. Adding more activities or destinations at the last minute is likely to increase financial risks through stringent cancellation policies, with many tour operators offering less flexibility the closer you get to the date. A closer look at pricing models shows that costs for tours and trips often jump up as demand increases, particularly just before peak travel days, so booking last minute also may mean higher costs for the same experience.
Adding last minute plans may result in an increased stress factor. The psychological impact of trying to manage too many components during the days before a big journey is likely to undermine your well-being, as it tends to hamper your decision making processes at a time when focus is key to ensuring all goes smoothly. When you do not give yourself adequate time for proper planning, you might also be disappointed with the outcome; tour reviews tend to indicate that the experiences which are organized in haste, lack detail and personalization leading to a less engaging experience. Furthermore, cramming too much in might not give your body and mind enough time to properly adjust to the new time zone, which would impede your overall enjoyment of your travels.
Do keep in mind, adding extra events before departure might tax you physically, and studies show that physical exhaustion prior to a trip will impact you during your actual travel. And many pre-booked travel activities, such as side-tours, usually require full payment which you may not be able to recover if the trip has to be canceled at the last minute or if some personal matter requires you to make changes. You will also likely find yourself entangled in additional logistic nightmares. Each new addition to the itinerary can create scheduling conflicts or transportation issues, each extra detail adding unwanted pressure, at a time when you are trying to simplify everything for an easy start to your trip. And be aware, an overpacked pre-travel period will mean you will likely have higher levels of exposure to other people and new environments which has been shown to increase the potential exposure to unwanted pathogens. And finally, when you book in a rush you probably will not do as much research as needed. Behavioral science suggests that any hasty decision making process will overlook personal preferences and key factors. All this usually results in a less satisfying travel experience that might have been completely avoidable had you planned earlier and with some more care.
7 Essential Activities to Avoid in the Week Before International Travel - Do Not Accept New Work Projects or Assignments
In the crucial week before your international travel, it's essential to avoid accepting new work projects or assignments that could add unnecessary stress and disruption to your pre-trip preparations. Taking on new responsibilities at this time can detract from your focus on finalizing travel details, such as packing and coordinating logistics, ultimately affecting the quality of your existing commitments. The pressure from new assignments can lead to feelings of overwhelm, hindering your performance and leaving you ill-prepared for the journey ahead. Instead, concentrate on wrapping up ongoing tasks and maintaining clarity in communication about your current workload to ensure a smooth transition into travel mode. Engaging in such prudent planning can enhance your travel experience, allowing you to start your journey relaxed and organized rather than frazzled and rushed.
In the week prior to international travel, declining any fresh work projects or assignments is a sensible strategy for maintaining focus. The demand for mental acuity, particularly while navigating unfamiliar surroundings or handling any logistical hiccups during travel, underscores the importance of a clear mind free from work pressures.
Taking on more work will likely activate your body's stress response and increase cortisol levels, which can impede both your physical readiness for travel and also affect your immune system. It may be wise to avoid potential health impacts and ensure that your body is in prime condition as you prepare for an international trip. When you pile on more work just before your travel, it can reduce efficiency and can affect quality which could have further stress implications. It may make sense to focus on ensuring all your existing work tasks and arrangements are finalized, so as not to compromise your preparedness for your trip and cause unwanted difficulties.
New work also comes with time constraints. Accepting extra duties before departure can result in poor time management, which has been shown to lead to errors or oversights that could negatively impact your travels and cause issues along your journey. Adding to existing tasks might derail your established pre-travel routines; something that has been shown to increase anxiety. Having insufficient time for essential tasks can also increase your level of worry about small or larger issues which can diminish the enjoyment you should be having as you plan a trip. New work projects can at times introduce unexpected needs for immediate attention which can create problems for a traveler who should be focused on preparations instead of potentially having to address work issues at unsociable hours that compromise rest needed for travel. An increasing workload, with the accompanying increase in demands on your time and attention, is highly likely to cause more physical and mental stress and exhaustion right before a potentially stressful journey. This fatigue would impact travel alertness as well as your mental processing speed when navigating new spaces.
Taking on more work also brings in its own share of networking activities which will probably add to your mental fatigue and reduce the capacity to truly absorb a new place as you begin your international journey. As you start a trip, your cognitive functions need to be sharp for your enjoyment and ability to integrate into new settings. And not least of all, distractions from work projects can potentially overshadow important trip preparation tasks, such as checking all your travel documents and securing adequate insurance. Having these tasks as priorities are worth pursuing to guarantee peace of mind and to help you navigate your trip as smoothly as possible.
7 Essential Activities to Avoid in the Week Before International Travel - Skip Testing New Skincare Products or Hair Treatments That Might Cause Reactions
In the week before international travel, avoiding any trial runs with new skincare or hair treatments is vital. Changes in climate, altitude, or even the stress of travel itself can make your skin much more sensitive. Even products marked as “natural” or “gentle” could cause unforeseen issues, ranging from minor irritations to unwelcome breakouts, right when you'd least want them. Rather than risk a reaction, stick with your tried and tested go-to products that you know work for you, thus helping maintain a stable balance. Keeping things familiar and predictable reduces the chances of any unfortunate skin surprises that could easily affect the comfort and enjoyment of your trip. Choosing the consistent approach gives you more certainty as you move into the travel period.
### The Curious Case of New Skincare and Hair Products Before a Trip
In the lead-up to any international flight, avoid the temptation of trying out new skincare products or hair treatments, because it's surprisingly risky. It's a bit of a gamble to introduce something novel to your body's largest organ—the skin—when you're also about to subject it to an entirely new environment. This isn't about being overly cautious; rather, it’s a calculated avoidance of a potentially problematic cascade of events.
It’s remarkable to note that something as seemingly innocuous as a new moisturizer can trigger unexpected reactions. And it’s not simply a matter of allergic response either; even products labeled ‘natural’ or ‘hypoallergenic’ may be loaded with ingredients that your system is not familiar with, leading to irritation or breakouts at the least convenient time. You would not expect a highly-tuned machine to run smoothly if you suddenly changed the type of lubricants; the human skin has a similar, complex, and very sensitive physiology. Consider what happens when environmental factors are added to the mix - the recycled air and fluctuating humidity levels in an airplane can really challenge your skin, and make a seemingly mild new product create all types of irritations that you may not expect.
Research reveals an interesting link between stress and skin conditions. Any physical or emotional strain as you prepare for travel can exacerbate existing sensitivities and bring on symptoms, making it extra risky to add a new product just before departure. You might also find yourself dealing with clogged pores or strange new breakouts, and then you have no idea which product is the culprit - or you might actually require to test all your new products at the same time. Do also consider that your skin's absorption of ingredients can vary significantly with environmental changes and travel can alter that absorption rate. A new moisturizer might permeate your skin differently mid-flight than it did at home, leading to unforeseen systemic reactions. Consider the effects of chemically treated hair as well. Hair that’s been colored, bleached, or permed has been fundamentally altered. Introducing a new product to hair in that weakened condition is similar to using a new fuel in a temperamental combustion engine; it could simply sputter, or it might bring the system to a complete stop. So it is best to be cautious of potential problems and opt for well-established routines just before an international flight.