TIPS FOR STAYING HEALTHY ON THE ROAD
Being on the road can take its toll on our bodies. Not enough sleep, working long hours, eating weird stuff, traveling through different temperatures and climates. I was once unlucky enough to get pneumonia on tour, in the winter, while touring through the freezing Mid-West. Another time I picked up bronchitis during the middle of the summer. It’s evident that taking the necessary steps to stay healthy is not a seasonal obligation; we need to be mindful of our health year-round. Not only for our benefit, but the last thing you want to do is also get those around you sick. So I thought I’d touch on a few key things that will keep you out of the urgent care while you’re playing the Jingle Ball circuit.
Get some sleep. Sometimes tough to do on the road, but the more worn down we get the tougher it is to fight off any seasonal sickness. When loadout is finished, don't stay up late chatting with everyone on the bus. Skip the trip to the bar, and call it a night early. Even then you may not get as much sleep as you need, but you'll get more than you would have otherwise.
Wash your hands. Basic stuff here, but when you’re bouncing from city to city, shaking hands with people you meet along the way, you’re spreading more germs than one of those kiddie play places in the mall. Don't touch your face with those dirty hands, that's just fast-tracking those germs directly into your system.
Eat right. Aftershow pizza is wonderful, but it doesn’t do us any good. Get some healthy snacks; lay off the doughnuts and soda in catering, and get your body some of the food it needs to fight off the sickness. Blueberries are a good antioxidant, for example, have some of those!
Drink water. Easy to remember when it’s hot and you’re thirsty, but still important when it’s cold and you’re not dehydrated. There are a bunch of rules as to how many ounces you should drink, based on your body weight and such. I say just drink some water, it’s good for you.
Exercise. What type of exercise you’re able to do on tour will depend on the type of tour you’re on. If you’re staying at a Motel 6 every night, there is probably not a gym available. But if you're lucky enough to post up at a Hilton on a day off, they probably have a nice place to sweat it out. If it’s nice outside, go for a run, or at least a walk. Carry some resistance bands or even a jump rope. You're not looking to be the next Mr. Olympia, just burn some calories when you can spare a few minutes every day.
You've undoubtedly heard mention of all these topics many times because they're tried and true. I’m reiterating here because they're all very important, and a friendly reminder once in a while is always helpful. Being sick on the road is one of the worst experiences. Stay healthy and safe so you can make it through the tour and get home for some holiday fun with your family!