Self-care is about nurturing your mind, body, and soul. It essentially comes down to doing what makes you feel good and balanced. At first glance, it may seem that talking about “self-care” and travel is unnecessary. After all, travel can be viewed as a form of self-care (it is a way I nurture my soul). However, much time, energy, and money goes into trip planning and trips themselves. Practicing self-care is vital to being able to mentally and physically enjoy traveling. Here are my go-to self-care practices that I treat myself to before, during, and after traveling:

Self-Care Before & After Traveling

My self-care practices before and after traveling are pretty similar.

Self Care Tools

Create a living space that you enjoy being in! Everyone should have at least one room in their home that serves as their peaceful retreat. For me, that place is my bedroom, where I intentionally created a spa-like vibe. Some of the key elements of making this happen include the following:

Travel-Inspired Home Decor

I have a gallery wall in my bedroom highlighting souvenirs from recent trips. I constantly update it and rearrange it after each trip. It reminds me of memorable moments during my travels as I look forward to planning the next adventure.

Candles

I light a candle whenever I unwind after a busy day or need a moment to be still. A good scented candle can always relax me and brighten my spirit. Lately, my ReNu Candle Company’s Rose Gold candle has brought me peace of mind. This 100% soy hand-poured candle contains aromas of Jasmine & Gardenia, with notes of Rose, Lilac, & Peach. I love it because the scent can fill the entire room but is not overpowering. Even when it isn’t lit, I still notice the candle’s calming fragrance. In our busy and demanding world, ReNu encourages people to honor the stillness that they need and put themselves first.

Essential Oil Diffuser

My essential oil diffuser is another important wellness item in my room. There are hundreds of essential oils with various benefits.

Himalayan Salt Lamp

The warm pink/orangeish glow from my Himalayan salt lamp immediately calms me. Authentic Himalayan salt lamps have many health benefits, including air purification. The lamp traps indoor air pollutants such as allergens, mold, and bacteria.

Self Care Practices

My go-to practices to nourish my body before and after traveling include:

Daily Stretching

I aim to stretch daily for at least 15 minutes in the morning and nighttime. Stretching is a good stress reliever and helps improve flexibility and joint range of motion.

Dry Brushing

Dry brushing is brushing your skin in a particular pattern with a dry brush, typically before showering. Usually, the skin is brushed toward the heart, beginning at the feet and hands and brushing toward the chest. Dry brushing helps me stimulate my normal lymph flow within my body, assists my body in detoxifying itself naturally, and gives me a natural energy boost.

Taking a Hot Bath with Epsom Salt

Taking a hot bath with Epsom salt is another way I unwind and detoxify my body. I stay in the tub for at least 12 minutes to get the full effect of the Epsom salt.

Drinking a Cup of Hot Tea

Drinking a delicious cup of my favorite hot tea before I begin my day and before I go to bed always brings me balance. I like sprucing my tea with honey, lemon, and ginger.

Indulging in natural-skin care products

Many commercial body products contain harmful ingredients for our skin. Lately, I’ve been incorporating more natural products into my skincare routine as a nice treat for my body.

Self-Care While Traveling

In addition to stretching, drinking hot tea, and using natural skin care products, my self-care while traveling routine includes the following:

Self Care Tools

Essential Oils

Essential oils are great to use on the road. Whether you need something natural to help you sleep on a long flight (lavender oil) or something natural to boost your energy when you wake up early for an excursion (peppermint oil), there’s something for you.

Journal

When we travel, we are taking in many new things at once. Journaling helps you to process and reflect on your experiences. I’m better at this on some trips than others. Sometimes, my reflections are long narratives recapping the day, and other times, they are bulleted gratitude lists!

Self Care Practices

Get moving

Waking up early to hit the gym during vacation may be unrealistic for many. Instead, incorporate some hike or nature walks into your itinerary. That’s guaranteed time to get in a workout and meditation!

Staying hydrated

As tempting as it may be to drink tasty cocktails and coffee on vacation, both can dehydrate. Drinking water is key, but it isn’t the only way to stay hydrated.

Choose nourishing food

The older I get, the more in tune I’ve become with recognizing what my body needs. While traveling, it’s so tricky/boring to pass on the tasty local cuisines. When I visited Porto, Portugal, trying a francesinha, a very meaty and cheesy sandwich, was recommended by many locals. I tried it but didn’t eat the entire dish because I knew doing so would probably make me want to sleep and not explore the town. I made sure to balance the meal with a fresh salad. Make sure that you are getting the nutrients your body needs.

Slow down

This is a big one for me. I love to maximize my time and see as much as possible when I travel. As a travel blogger, there’s that added pressure of wanting to show my readers the most iconic and Instagrammable sights of a city. However, I try not to do it at the expense of being well-rested. I contain my urge to see everything by reminding myself that quality experiences are better than quantity, and I can always return.

Sit by the water

Another way I slow down and recharge during my travels is by sitting near or taking a stroll by a body of water. Studies have shown that being near water helps us tap into our most calm and creative selves.

Get a massage or go to a spa.

I could have spa days in Bali and Thailand for under $25. These prices are unheard of in the United States, so I had the “treat yo’ yourself” mentality. During those trips, I got multiple massages and both my bank account and body were happy with me.

Monitor social media usage

As a blogger, I will admit this is hard for me/a work in progress. It’s easy to get sucked into the social media blackhole. But it’s so necessary to unplug and live in the moment. I remind myself that not everything needs to be recorded instantly.

These are my key practices for self-care before, during, and after travel. There are endless ways to practice self-care, which looks different for everyone. 

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