In my last post I shared my top tips for traveling with a chronic condition with a focus on comfort in the car and/or plane. I decided to kick it up a notch today by sharing all the ways I enjoy life on the go when traveling to the city or more upbeat locations. Living with a chronic condition is nothing new to me. However, a few years ago I began noticing more of an impact than I had in years prior. Since I absolutely love traveling I didn’t want to give that up. See, I truly believe that one of the necessities for thriving with a chronic condition is keeping your passion and finding ways to live life to the fullest even in the midst of pain, fatigue, dizziness, and all the other lows I sometimes encounter. So, I tuned in, got real about my limitations, and paid attention to the ways I felt I could amp up my travel experience.

For one, I always make sure to build in time for rest. Being on the go is often part of visiting new places (especially when I’m in a city), so I prepare myself beforehand with things like electrolytes and salty snacks (see my last post for more!). That way my body is aptly prepared. Then, when I’m there I take time each morning to sketch out a quick plan of what my day will look like. Since I’m on holiday I know this will be a loose idea, allowing room for impromptu fun, while giving me an outline to come back to, ensuring I take care of my needs. As a general rule I build in time around the middle of my day to come back to the room, elevate my legs, get extra hydration, and maybe even take a quick nap. If I’m going cross town and it doesn’t make sense to come back to the room I plan for a break somewhere I can at least put my legs up on a bench and rest for half an hour or longer.

Taking in the ocean view with some decaf before I head out for fun on the ship

Next, before I leave the room I make sure to put on my calf compressions. I use these rather than compression socks because they are cooler (remember those temperature swings from my last post?) and still do a nice job of keeping my blood from pooling in my feet. This means, I can walk for longer distances with less discomfort and dizziness. Sign me up! Now I have to admit that I haven’t tried these out in the summer time yet. Since we generally take more relaxing vacays in during summer months or travel to cooler climates (I don’t like being out walking in the heat) I’ve never been faced with the need. And, now that I’m writing about it, I wonder if they’d just make me hotter and cause more issues than help. What do you think? Have you worn them in the heat? If so, please share your experience. I’m intrigued! Either way, they do really help me a lot when I’m going to be on my feet a lot and I highly recommend getting a pair if you don’t have some already.

Next up, cushioned socks. Yep, I went there! We were in NYC just before Christmas and my feet were killing me. It was only our first day there so I knew I was going to be in trouble if I didn’t find a solution fast. Thankfully we were near a NorthFace Store and I decided to pop in to buy a new pair of socks. Kevin suggested I buy the cushioned pair. I thought he had lost his marbles. Twenty dollars for a pair of socks was way out of my comfort zone. I mean they were SOCKS people! Luckily, he talked me into it because they were a life-saver. I actually ended up wearing them every day we were there. Gross, right? In all honesty I would’ve purchase another pair but we weren’t near North Face again and I didn’t want to take any more time out of our trip to hunt down yet another pair of socks. One thing’s for sure though, I will never travel to a city without cushiony socks again. Because of EDS my feet hurt anyway, but walking all day really is an entirely new level of pain and those bad boys made my life so much easier. Definitely worth the twenty bucks, and then some!

Now, on to food! Since I’m a snacker I like to carry snacks in a bag with me, but part of the fun of being in a new place is sampling all the unique food in the area. So, in order to keep myself up and running I plan a mid-morning and late-afternoon snack break into my day. This means I get to sit and rest, recharge with a drink and some yummy food, and take in the city like a local. If I’m not properly fueled and hydrated I can forget having a good time and chances are I’ll be bed-bound before the trip’s over. So, I might as well practice some self-care and enjoy it! It’s been said that living with dysautonomia is like running a marathon on a daily basis (literally). Our bodies go through so many ups and downs (my heart rate can vary from around 30 to nearly 200 within just a few minutes) in a day that it makes sense we would feel exhausted, especially if we aren’t taking in the proper nutrition. Plus, we really do need all the hydration we can get. So, don’t skip this step!

Another thing, I always make sure to balance out my days. One way I do this is by spacing all the bigger things I want to do throughout my trip. For instance, I’ll plan a Broadway Show or Sporting event on a day when I’m planning to do some easy breezy site seeing. Then, I’ll visit a museum or go to a concert a day or two later. It’s necessary, peeps. This way I can actually enjoy what I’m doing and not be so tired or symptomatic that I miss out on the fun or only half comprehend it. Trust me, falling asleep in the middle of a Broadway show is no fun. I’ve done it. Knowing my limits and making choices that honor them is where it's at!

What else? Rest up! It’s easy to get drawn into everything on a trip and forget how important adequate sleep is. Some of my non-spoonie friends can go on four hours of sleep for a few days as long as they get a nap. That’s a no go for me. I have to get at least eight consecutive hours of rest (preferably more) if I’m going to make it the next day. I may be able to skimp one night if I’m on a shorter trip, but it will eventually catch up. So, if I do that I have to plan a couple of days to sleep when I get back home. In that case I just ask myself, “Is it worth it?” Sometimes the answer is yes. Generally speaking though, it's just not worth the aftermath. So, I make sure I plan a full night's rest into all the fun I'm having. On trips like this sleep isn't usually a problem, but if I am too amped up to catch my zzzz's I take a warm (not hot) shower, slather on some lavender, and do some meditation to wind down.

Finally, focus on fun! It’s easy to get caught up in all the stuff we "should be doing" and forget that the whole point of our trip is to enjoy it! So, just pay attention to how you’re feeling and make real time adjustments. I do this by periodically checking in with myself throughout the day, doing a quick body scan, taking note of how I feel (physically, spiritually, and mentally), and asking my body what I need. In that moment I do what my body is asking and move forward knowing I am taking care of myself. This is all we can do. If this is new to you or you're one of those people that get caught up in the day (don't we all at times), hours slipping by before you know it, set reminders in your phone for check-ins, snack breaks, etc. This will take the guess work out of it and keep you feeling great for your trip!

Mid-day rest and a glass of rosé after lots of hydration and walking in The Windy City

I hope these tips will help make your next holiday super. Don't forget to share your tricks in the comments below. As always, be well and travel often!