Long road trips can be seriously exhausting. Although you’re spending all your time sitting, anyone who has been on a 14-hour car ride or bus trip knows they can get tired on those long journeys. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to pass the time, stay healthy, and even enjoy the trip. In today’s post, we’ll go over a few things you can do to practice self care on your upcoming bus trip.
Stay Hydrated
The most important thing you can do on a long trip to stay comfortable and healthy is to drink plenty of water. Pack a few water bottles for your trip, especially if you’ll be on the bus for longer than eight hours. The only thing you’ll have to consider is that buses typically don’t have toilets on board, so you’ll have to wait every few hours before you can go to the bathroom at a scheduled stop. Keep in mind that you’ll want to drink enough water to stay hydrated, but not so much that it becomes unbearable for your bladder.
Pack Healthy Snacks
Stock up on protein bars, jerky, trail mix, and other nutritious snack foods for your long journey. Tempting though it may be, try not to fill up on salty chips, chocolatey desserts, and other sugary treats during the trip. These indulgences may offer immediate satisfaction, but they’ll only leave you with a lethargic feeling afterward. Keep the sugary snacks to a minimum and instead opt for filling, healthy foods.
Dress Accordingly
Just like you (probably) wouldn’t show up to a farm in a full-blown ball gown, when you’re going on a bus trip, you shouldn’t be decked out in the most fashionable — uncomfortable — outfit of all time. Steer clear of tight and rigid clothes like jeans, professional attire, or anything that will make sitting for a length of time uncomfortable. Stick to comfy, loose-fitting clothes, especially if you will be on the bus overnight and need to get some shut-eye.
Stay Fresh
It’s a rare person who doesn’t feel sluggish and gross after a 14-hour flight, car ride, or bus ride. Although it will be difficult to preserve the feeling of freshness during the trip, there are a few little hacks you can try to freshen up right at the tail end of the trip, especially if it’s an overnight trip. Bring some face wipes and moisturizer to give yourself a mini skincare treatment so you can show up at your destination fresh-faced and glowing. Drink some water, apply a lip balm, and lather up your hands with lotion. Pop a mint and you’ll be good to go.
Get Plenty of Shut-Eye
The reality of bus travel is that, like flying economy on a plane, you are not always going to be very comfortable. One of the easiest ways to pass the time is to get a lot of sleep. Use this time to catch up on any sleep you’ve been missing out on. Pack an eye mask to keep the light out, take some melatonin, and get yourself situated for a luxuriously long nap. To stay comfortable, it’s a good idea to bring along a neck pillow or mini pillow for your head as well as a small blanket.
Use the Time to Catch Up on Things
Long trips are the most opportune times to catch up on all those podcasts you’ve been meaning to listen to and books you’ve wanted to read. Whether it’s good reading or listening material or perhaps some work you needed to complete, use your time on the bus to get all the things done that you weren’t able to do during your regular routine. This, paired with plenty of naps, will help make the time go by quickly.
Take in the Sights
One of the great things about buses is that they often have gigantic windows, offering plenty of opportunities for you to gaze out at the beautiful sights along the way. Take advantage of this, especially if you are sitting right by a window. Use this time to take in the awe-inspiring views of city skylines, open plains, and any natural wonders you end up passing along the way. And of course, you don’t want to miss the spectacular sunset as the day comes to a close. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for the setting sun and the immaculate pink, orange, and purple sky that it will bring. Even at night, you can catch some astonishing views of the starry night sky.
Ready to start planning the rest of your bus trip? Don’t hesitate to buy a bus ticket today!
