No longer confined to weekend vacations, retirees often decide to load up the RV and hit the road. To make the most of road trips, keep these wellness tips in mind both before and during your voyage.
Bring Extra Medications
If you’re going to be gone for a prolonged period of time, talk to your doctor beforehand about getting an extra supply of your prescriptions. Ordering refills from pharmacies along the way could be complicated, and you shouldn’t assume that you’ll be able to, since road trips don’t always go as planned (although you should know where you can get more, just in case). Having extra medications on hand will give you peace of mind, even if you don’t end up using them all.
Make a Record of Important Medical Information
In line with our last tip, you’ll want to create a record of all your medical information before you leave, and keep it on you or in your vehicle throughout the trip. Include your daily medications, any allergies you have, emergency contacts, and physician and insurance information. You can do this the old-fashioned way with paper and a pencil, or use tools such as the American Medical Association’s My Medications app. If anything happens to you during your trip, this information might make all the difference.
Break Up the Trip
You may be excited to reach your destination, but half the fun of road trips is in the ride. Plus, driving for too long can leave you too exhausted to fully enjoy your endpoint, or even drive safely. Splitting up the trip into shorter bits helps prevent accidents and road trip boredom.
Stay Active
Sitting too much is bad for your health, and retirement shouldn’t mean changing from sitting at your desk to sitting in your RV. To stay active during your trip, incorporate exercise into all of your breaks. Stop at scenic spots along the way for a short hike, or visit cities that you can explore entirely on foot or on a bike. The point is to avoid being sedentary all day.
Be sure to bring the appropriate gear for whatever activities you plan to partake in, such as comfortable walking shoes. You may also want to carry a lightweight backpack or crossbody bag to free your hands and improve your balance while walking.
Watch Your Diet
When on vacation, it’s easy to slip into a vacation mode of eating, in which anything goes. While this might be okay for short trips, it’s definitely not healthy for extended road trips (or for retirees who consider themselves on permanent vacation, for that matter). Road trippers can be especially prone to poor eating habits, since cooking in an RV or at a campsite is more difficult, making packaged foods an attractive alternative.
To maintain a balanced diet, stock up on healthy foods every time you’re near a grocery store. Buy lots of fruits and veggies that you can eat raw to get your vitamins and minerals in, and eggs and other protein sources that are easy to cook. Also be sure to drink plenty of water, as older adults have a higher risk of dehydration.
Featured image via Unsplash
