Chiroblog

As exciting as the holiday season can be, it can also be filled with stress. One of the biggest contributing factors is the stress of traveling.  Your body doesn’t thrive in stressful situations; which is why we end up feeling fatigued or tense.  And when our bodies are in this state we often develop headaches, neck pain, low back pain, jaw pain, and/or stomach-aches. Whether you are traveling by car, airplane or another form of transportation, holiday travel can take its toll on both your mind and body. Chiropractic is great for helping with injuries brought on by the wear and tear from traveling, but what we really want at RFC is to prevent you from having to deal with any of these injuries in the first place. Check out the below tips on how to handle some of these major stressors so you can make sure you can truly enjoy the quality time with your family and friends this holiday season. 

1. With this being the busiest time of year for traveling the lines are often long, the prices for tickets and gas are increased, and the weather is an unpredictable factor that can wreak havoc on any plans you thought you had.  It is important to remember these situations are temporary, and often times out of your control.  Take time to focus on your breath during these times rather than getting frustrated or restless.  Try these different breathing techniques linked here (https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-reduce-stress-with-breathing-exercises-3144508)
2. We often spend long hours in confined spaces during trips. Keeping our blood flowing is essential so make sure you take time to stretch while you’re traveling. Whether that be on the plane when the fasten seatbelt sign turns off, or stopping at a rest stop along your route, get up and move.  Some easy stretches are linked here (https://darlingmagazine.org/7-stretches-make-holiday-travel-less-painful/)
3. It’s a full house, but it isn’t your house. Therefore, you aren’t sleeping in your own bed, which can throw off both your sleep routine as well as your posture. If possible, bring your own pillow at least to make the disruption in your routine a little less drastic; your neck will thank you.
4. Pack light.  We’re all guilty of over packing at times but, with our bodies in a compromised state of stress the last thing we need to do is lift heavy suitcases.  Consider this: take multiple trips to the car rather than trying to carry it all into the house in one trip, pack in several small bags rather than stuffing everything into one large one and use a roller bag rather than one that needs to be slung over your shoulder.

The list goes on, but with these few tips and your chiropractic adjustments both before and after your trip we hope you will find a little less stress in your holiday travel this season!

Reference:

American Chiropractic Association https://www.acatoday.org/Patients/Health-Wellness-Information/Preventing-Travel-Aches-and-Strains