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A lot of people try to travel all year round, often in pursuit of an escape from reality and a break in the monotony of everyday life. I often think about this when reflecting on my career and how hard it's been to balance both work and my personal life while caring for children. So why is traveling really important? Maybe because we are living through a time of unprecedented stress and uncertainty with COVID-19 still spreading in many parts of the world. People want to get away, seek solace from nature, and recharge their batteries. And yet, most travelers leave home feeling exhausted. Even after spending four days in Iceland, many felt physically tired and just wanted to sleep. In fact, some studies show that even those traveling abroad experience burnout and feel stressed due to anxiety around return travel, especially new destinations they encounter. Many travelers end up experiencing symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, irritability, dry mouth, lack of concentration, and more. To add to the list are the negative impacts of air pollution which contributes to respiratory conditions, as well as the risk to develop cardiovascular diseases. The United States has one of the highest rates of asthma, along with other chronic and infectious illnesses. According to the CDC (2020), 1 out of 3 U.S. adults live with at least one chronic illness today. Air pollution is one of the leading causes of these illnesses, along with physical activity. This article will explore ways you can incorporate more green activities into your daily routine to reduce your exposure to pollutants and improve overall health! #1 Create Weekly Routines If possible, create a weekly schedule or plan for your travels. Having regular plans can help you relax after intense periods of travel or being in unfamiliar surroundings. You could also schedule trips to popular parks and hiking trails that have free camping areas or areas with no fee! Plan Activities Before Travel Planning Your accommodations and transportation before leaving, including knowing where you’ll sleep, what meal plan works best for you, and how long you will spend traveling. Preparing your wallet and planning your meals ahead of time also make you more comfortable with the unexpected expense of food before departure. Make sure you have all of your cash in checkbooks as well as extra money in high denominations. It’s much easier and less stressful to keep track of bills and receipts in case something gets lost or doesn’t arrive soon enough. Try making notes and pictures of items to mark them down for easy retrieval later! Keep Track and Store Important Items With special pens or pencils, use sticky notes or drawers to store important documents. Use your phone list to note everything you need to bring to each destination. This includes things like insurance cards, prescriptions, birth certificates, bank statements, IDs, and medical records. These items should be kept away from your purse, and all documentation should have a date, when it’s needed. Bring Plenty of Water When visiting unfamiliar locations, it might seem difficult to stay hydrated. But there are plenty of options that fit your needs, to keep your body working properly

To find places that offer healthy water options, go online to search “healthy drinking places near me” or look for nearby businesses that sell bottled water and drink it throughout the day. Some bottled water companies provide free refills so purchase regularly since refilling every two weeks can cost anywhere between $10-20. Pack Light if Possible Choose clothing that’s light, washable, easy to remove, or weather-resistant. If you must wear clothes at all times during your trip, choose ones that don’t restrict movement and can easily take on a change of scene. There is nothing worse than looking for a space to sit in a bus and realizing you forgot to put pants on! By using the right type of clothing, you can avoid wasting your energy recharging your batteries and help prevent potential dehydration. Carry Clothing For Unusual Situations Think outside the box when choosing outfits. Are you staying in hostels or hotels or a hotel room? Do you have to dress casually or conservatively? Don’t assume everyone is dressed for business casual attire unless you’re wearing suits. Find out what their typical outfit style looks like to figure out what pieces will get a good fit for you. Look for colors you enjoy seeing in photos, textures or patterns that match your personality, and styles you love. Read Clothing Lists – These lists allow you to see what certain brands of clothing have to offer (ex. Levis) or see what type of clothing would suit you best in a specific scenario (ex. Gap). Pick Out Pieces That Have a Good Fit for Each Situation by Reading Their Reviews Online

By researching clothes reviews online, you can quickly discover what clothes will fit your body type, whether or not the brand fits you the way you want, and how easy it is to shop for clothing individually. Check the measurements on clothes before purchasing to ensure the sizes fit and measure for comfort. Also, read customer opinions and comments to understand how your favorite brand compares to others. Avoid Buyer Beware When Purchasing Clothes Be careful to buy only items you’re willing to put yourself through so you don’t buy anything you don’t really need. Buying too many things means buying too little time and effort to prepare! If you’re buying clothing without giving thought to the amount you need, it will likely be too much or unnecessary. Save the Money Buying used clothes saves you money and reduces environmental waste by reducing the number of clothing items you’ll need to replace. Plus, you save money by avoiding the costs of shipping, handling the order, cleaning the item, and delivering it to its destination. Use Facebook Groups Buying from websites other than Amazon, eBay, etc., can create extra waste and damage your devices. Here at ZOOT, we believe a small piece of furniture or a pair of shoes goes a very long way! We don’t encourage impulse shopping, but when it comes to expensive purchases, look for bargains on clearance items online and in stores! Go back and look again to see if it was a great deal on clearance items. Then shop around in other stores to find similar deals! Know Where to Shop – Shopping at big name retail stores that may seem better quality than an independent retailer will require more research on certain items. As previously stated, it’s best to shop locally and browse a few different stores before purchasing something. Check online reviews for sales and prices on these types of products. Check and compare price tags to make sure the products are worth it. Remember Not All Stores Offer Discounts On Every Item You Purchase At local grocery chains, convenience stores, supermarkets, and gas stations, you can find bargain finds! Always pay close attention to sales, specials, promotions, coupons, and store policy changes. Price Comparison Apps – Most apps and services allow shoppers to compare priced options and select the best option for the lowest price. Compare Prices Across Shops – Most credit card issuers give access to over 800 retailers nationwide to compare product prices between each merchant’s website and mobile app. Retail Meals – Sites that provide restaurant discounts include Restaurant Depot, iGiftCard, MyFitnessPal and Blue Apron. Food Delivery Services – Uber Eats offers delivery services in the continental US. Dining Sites – Groupon will connect you to restaurants of your choice. They also feature their own loyalty program, offering points towards rewards on future orders. Grocery Websites & Restaurants – Check their websites to see if they’re accepting apps for ordering and/or catering, delivery services, or gift card programs! Search Places Like Yelp : Another tool on sites like Home and Google Maps. Review Companies & Businesses – Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Pinterest, Quora — these can be valuable sources for information on businesses and individuals. While the company may not be directly affiliated with any particular news source, the platform itself is an excellent resource for reviews. However, check the actual stories or complaints against companies before reading them, because there is often much misinformation floating around. Never Rely on Phone Bookings - No matter how awesome it sounds, calling people and getting appointments for meetings or events without actually booking it yourself is never a good idea. You have to be ready to answer calls, respond to texts, make reservations, and meet deadlines. Contact Information Sites – Get contact information from a variety of listing sites, including Expedia, TripAdvisor, Yandex, Airbnb, Webflights, Couchsurfing, RentalLodge, HostSpot, ShareIt With Friends, Foursquare, and TrustedPlaces. Listings for Hotels Often have multiple options for searching available lodging. If you do book a property, read the descriptions carefully to make sure it’s the perfect place for you!