In the spring of 2020, the world was introduced to the coronavirus, and we all ultimately saw the entire world shut down right in front of our eyes.
Today, the COVID-19 pandemic is still surging in many parts of the country thanks to the Delta variant as of 2021, and this is still affecting the way we work, live, and travel.
The good thing about taking a road trip is that you don’t have to come into contact with too many people like you would if riding a plane, train or bus.
Taking a road trip limits the contact you’ll make, but you still need to adopt best safety practices in order to stay safe and healthy along your trip.
If you’re interested in taking a long road trip but you’re worried about staying safe, here we’ll outline a few simple ways to keep safe and healthy while traveling amid the pandemic.
Staying Safe on the Road
Before you can take your trip, you’re going to need to be proactive and do some preventative maintenance on your vehicle. While driving around the country, one of the best ways to keep safe is by ensuring that your vehicle has been serviced prior to any long-distance road travel.
If you have any underlying issues, or if your check engine light has been on for some time, you’re going to want to get this taken care of by a licensed mechanic.
Additionally, you’ll also want to ensure that you’ve had an oil change and that your tires are in good road condition, with proper tread and air pressure. And don’t forget to inflate your spare tire if it’s not fully inflated.
In addition to vehicle maintenance, you’ll also need to check your auto insurance policy to ensure that you have roadside assistance added to your policy. If you don’t, shop around and compare auto insurance quotes, then look at policies with roadside assistance.
What to Eat?
On the road, our eating habits can get thrown for a loop. Even if you have been adhering to a strict diet regimen, roadside gas stations and diners aren’t the best when it comes to healthy eating choices.
You might be able to stop in a more heavily populated area and eat lunch or breakfast at a location with healthy food options, but if you’re on a long stretch of road with little to no services, this is going to be hard to accomplish.
Your best bet is to meal prep before you take your trip. If you bring a couple of ice-chests along with you packed with all of your healthy choices, this will not only ensure that you’ll have healthy snacks and food for the ride, it will also mitigate the amount of time you have to spend in stores shopping or at restaurants.
Reducing the time spent around others will aid in staying healthy, as you won’t be as exposed to the possible spread of COVID-19.
Exercise
One of our best safeguards against catching a virus is by having a healthy immune system. And a healthy immune system is enhanced not only by proper diet but by regular exercise as well.
Studies have shown time and time again the benefits of regular exercise and its effects on the immune system. And when you’re spending several hours (or days) in the car, exercise will be a welcomed treat at the end of the day.
Make time to get out of the car and stretch or walk around a bit. You can also bring along a set of resistance bands or do calisthenic exercises when you have time, in between driving intervals.
Staying safe is one thing, but staying healthy amid a worldwide pandemic can prove to be a challenge no matter where you live. If you’re going to be spending a great deal of time on the road, following safety protocols and making healthy choices will be your best decision.
