How to manage common travel-related wellness concerns
When you’re looking at how to manage common travel-related wellness concerns, the options can feel overwhelming. Our goal is to first create natural travel essentials that work, and to then help point you in the direction of 100% nature-derived and plant-sourced wellness products that can help tackle the issues that present themselves most frequently when we travel, from jetlag and sleep disruption to motion sickness, upset stomach, sunburn and more.
What we like most about the summer travel season
We’re squarely in the middle of most people’s beloved season, summer, and road trips, plane trips and train trips are, for many of us, the most treasured part of the season. Longer days mean more hours spent on outdoor activities and time spent with friends and family, whether it’s a beach day, a park picnic or an ultimate frisbee contest. Just thinking about the long travel days we embark on to make some of these summer dreams a reality has us thinking about some of the challenges we face when summer doesn’t quite love us back.
In this article, we’re discussing some of the most commonly shared sentiments about the parts of the summer travel season that don’t always align with feeling easy breezy, and the good-for-you, supportive and relieving plant-based wellness products we offer here at Saje to help you keep the good times rolling.
Common travel-related wellness concern #1: jetlag and fatigue
Who among us hasn’t been hit with the dreaded feeling of jetlag upon arrival at our summer travel destination of choice? Of course, it always seems to rear its ugly head when we hope for it least – like before a music festival or a sporting event we intend to be cheering at for hours. Jetlag is defined as ‘extreme tiredness or physical effects felt by a person after a long flight across several time zones.’ Sound familiar? Luckily, natural jetlag relief is on the way, because we’ve just re-introduced by popular demand our highly efficacious blend called Arrive Revived, exclusively as part of our Journey Well travel kit. Arrive Revived is licensed with Health Canada as being ‘used in Aromatherapy to help reduce drowsiness and fatigue and increase alertness.’ What this means is that it’s been blended with essential oils that are studied for the impact they create on both physical and mental well-being, helping to create feelings of reduced fatigue, increased alertness, and to help balance and recalibrate the body and mind when experiencing drowsiness. The blend contains eucalyptus, lemon and niaouli, all of which are fresh, enlivening and revitalizing. Arrive Revived can be rolled along areas like the temples, across the forehead and along the back of the neck, but our favorite way to use it is to do what we call the Saje Breath. Simply roll generously into the palms of your clean hands, vigorously rub your hands together, cup over your nose and mouth and breathe slowly and deeply 2-3 times. Through the act of deep breathing, you allow the oils to enter the olfactory system and begin sending signals to the brain that it’s time to pep up!
Speaking of Pep, we’re loving the Journey Well kit because it contains 4 TSA-size approved best-selling products for headaches, temperature regulation and skin dryness. Peppermint Halo is our #1 fan-fave for headaches and tension, Carrot+ lotion helps restore skin after in-flight dryness or exposure to environmental stressors and kit-exclusive Cool Down mist helps you feel cooled and refreshed whenever you need it.
Other common jetlag remedies? Adjust your sleep and wake times just slightly in the days leading up to travel so the shift feels less significant, maximize light exposure in the morning and earliest parts of your day while traveling, prioritize hydration and continue to move your body in an effort to help you adjust to your new surroundings.
Common travel-related wellness concern #2: sleepless nights
Staying with the theme of jetlag and fatigue, another one of the areas of our wellness that tends to take a big hit when we travel is our sleep. Try as we might, sometimes a different mattress and pillow is enough to throw us off balance and prevent us from getting the deep and restful sleep we need to feel our best. Enter, Sleep Well. A best-selling roll-on made with one of the most well-studied herbs in western medicine for rest, relaxation and that promotes sleep, valerian root. We love this product for many different reasons; it's compact and portable, it applies and absorbs easily, it works quickly to send signals to the body that it’s time to prepare for bed and it allows you to wake up the next day without the brain fog or sluggishness that can accompany traditional sleep aids.
In fact, we did a consumer study in which 91% of respondents said they preferred Sleep Well over conventional sleep aids because of the fact it was 100% natural. A fan-favorite for over 15 years, Sleep Well is also available as a body butter, a clothing and bedding mist and as a bath salt for a pre-bedtime routine that promotes less counting sheep and more sweet dreams.
If you’re looking for natural ways to stay energized while traveling, prioritize optimized sleep by adding aids as needed like ear plugs or a sleeping eye mask, rely heavily on healthy eating with balanced and nourishing meals when possible and incorporate regular physical activity as part of your travel schedule like using the hotel gym or going for regular walks.
Common travel-related wellness concern #3: tummy troubles
Probably one of the most common and most dreaded side effects of travel includes tummy troubles that can arise. While it’s true that these digestive challenges can be a result of food or water contaminated with bacteria or parasites, they also commonly occur related to new and different food and beverages, the stress of travel and unfamiliar environments or logistics and even due to altitude changes which can cause bloating and discomfort for some people.
Eater’s Digest is one of our original formulations here at Saje that is licensed with Health Canada as a digestion easing remedy, used to address common gut-health related symptoms, like stomach pain or cramping, heartburn, nausea and indigestion. Another simple to use product, we suggest applying directly to the stomach and massaging in a clockwise direction at the first signs of discomfort, allowing the sweet fennel, peppermint and black pepper to put you at ease.
Common travel-related wellness concern #4: skin challenges
Regardless of the season, skin issues like dryness, flakiness, minor irritation or rashes can easily be exacerbated by travel due to a number of factors, including dehydration, added exposure to the elements, airborne irritants, extra time spent outdoors and more. Environmental stressors like wind and sun exposure can lead to sunburn and a feeling of tightness or itchiness on the skin, which can make your travel wellness feel compromised.
The most important thing we can do to take care of our skin when traveling is to keep it hydrated. From the inside-out we suggest plenty of clean and pure water, and from the outside-in we suggest our new Dermedial Carrot+ lotion and hydra mist. Like the name states, we blended these products with a novel ingredient called carrot seed oil which is well-reputed for its positive impact on overall skin health. Nourishing, restorative and reparative, carrot seed oil, not to be confused with carrot oil, is antioxidant rich and known to be rejuvenating. We’ve also blended these formulas with magnolia berry extract, known to help reduce the visible appearance of redness or inflammation in the skin and sandalwood, a gentle oil that provides additional moisture and promotes skin elasticity.
Travel-size friendly and meant to be used daily, we suggest slathering on the lotion after swimming, time spent outdoors and particularly when the skin is feeling depleted after time spent in the sun, and we suggest to mist liberally over the face and body whenever the skin is feeling tight, dry or in need of a cooling refresh. A hot tip? Store the mist in a bucket of ice while you’re lounging poolside and spray down afterwards for an icy cool treatment for the skin.
Common travel-related wellness concern #5: stress and overwhelm
The truth of travel fatigue is that we can be having the time of our lives in beautiful destinations with people we love and still experience the fun and excitement as overwhelming to our nervous system. Even the best of times can feel stressful while we’re in them!
Fortunately, we can treat our minds and bodies to essential oils for travel that are meant to keep us grounded and in balance, like well-studied lavender, chamomile and orange. At Saje we offer a full collection of Stress Release products, formulated to help address both physical and emotional manifestations of stress like feeling tense or clenching the jaw, experiencing racing thoughts or a busy mind and feelings of experiencing worry or irritability. As with all of our products, they’re designed with simple use in mind; the Stress Release roll-on can be applied across the forehead, behind the ears, over the shoulders and the wrists or simply breathed in, sending signals to the brain for calm and relaxation. The mist is a quick way to breathe in the benefits of the peaceful essentials oils when spritzed over face and body, and some people quite enjoy bringing a diffuser to their hotel room when it makes sense, adding 10-15 drops of the Stress Release blend, so they can fill their space with tranquility and balance at the end of a long day.
Frequently asked questions about travel-related wellness concerns
What are the natural ways to overcome jetlag?
As previously mentioned, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to naturally managing and overcoming jetlag. Making your best efforts to adapt quickly to your new time zone by adjusting meal and sleep times can help you re-regulate, avoid the urge to nap if you arrive during daylight hours, and carry an empty and reusable water bottle at all times so that you can prioritize hydration. Of course, the addition of natural wellness products to support specific need states can be an important tool in your overall self-care routines while on the go.
What are the best essential oils for traveling?
This answer will depend largely on your state of need and your preference for products you take with you. Most of the products we offer at Saje are compact and portable, which makes taking them with you while traveling simple and easy. When it comes to jetlag, mental fatigue and low energy, look for bright, stimulating and revitalizing essential oils like rosemary, peppermint and lemon, for sleep challenges, we suggest calmative oils like lavender, valerian root and vetiver, and for stress or mood support, look for balancing and stabilizing essential oils like rose, bergamot and geranium.
How can I stay energized during long flights?
Some of the simple ways you can best support your body and mind during long stretches of travel include proper hydration, prioritizing sleep and finding ways to incorporate movement. The role water plays in overall well-being cannot be overstated; hydration before, during and after the flight, as well as minimizing or abstaining from caffeine or alcohol can support a faster adjustment once on the ground. Try to sleep on the flight if it makes sense according to the time you’re traveling. Noise cancelling headphones and a travel pillow might support you in achieving rest while in the air. Lastly, a few sessions of in-seat stretching can ward off stiffness and fatigue in the body, alongside a few well-timed short walks in the cabin when safe to do so.
What should be in my natural travel wellness kit?
We believe that wellness on-the-go should be simple and easy, never sacrificing quality for quantity. Depending on your travel goals this summer, some of the must-haves we always have on hand include our Hand Sanitizer for a freshen-up when soap and water aren’t available, Peppermint Halo for everything from head and neck pain and tension to a quick cool down when needed, Peaceful Warrior deodorant to help you stay fresh and odor-free throughout all of life’s adventures and a product to help wind down in the evenings, like our Power Down roll-on, formulated with essential oils that support quieting a busy mind and offering peacefulness – exactly what you need at the end of a long travel day.
Why choose natural remedies over pharmaceuticals for travel?
One of the primary reasons we recommend 100% natural wellness remedies as alternatives to pharmaceuticals is because of the potential for side effects or unpleasant interactions with certain medications. As an example, some medications require avoidance of sun exposure, which can be tricky while on-the-go. Choosing natural at Saje means that every one of our products have been formulated with 100% plant-based and derived ingredients that are free from many known skin irritants, are non-habit forming and don’t produce other undesirable side effects like drowsiness or grogginess.
