Van life can be an incredible experience that offers you a sense of freedom and adventure like no other. However, it’s important to acknowledge that maintaining your health and wellness can be challenging when living on the road. You might not have access to a kitchen or healthy food options, and it can be hard to stay active when you’re parked up in one spot. But once you get into a daily routine, maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle while vanlifing will feel effortless and liberating.
Nourishing Your Body
When you’re living in a van, you might not always have access to a grocery store, so it’s important to plan ahead and stock up on food and healthy snacks. While fast food joints may be quick and easy, they often offer food with little nutritional value and it can be difficult to know what ingredients are being used. Your main goal while on the road should be to nourish your gut because a happy gut is a happier you. On that note, the best way to take care of your body is by preparing your own meals. If you don’t have a full sized galley in your van, a viable option would be to invest in a portable camping stove.
Here are some of our recommendations:
POwerful and portable
Jetboil Flash Camping and Backpacking Stove Cooking System
$124.95
Boils water in just 100 seconds. Blistering boil times come standard on the industry-leading Jetboil Flash backpacking and camping stove.
double burner power
Eureka! Ignite Portable 2-Burner Propane Camping Stove
$124.95
Compact and powerful, the Eureka! Ignite two-burner camping stove, in green, is perfect for small groups and allows you to cook with more control. Includes two 10,000 BTU burners
AFFORDABLE COMPACT BUTANE
GasOne – Foldable Compact Butane Stove
$49.99
The Gas One Spyder Stove is a portable butane stove designed for campers and backpackers. It is compact, roughly the size of a 32 oz water bottle and offers 8000 BTU of power.
Non-perishable options like nuts, dried fruit, and jerky are great to have on hand, especially while driving. Chewing and crunching on something can keep you up and alert during those lengthy drives. Additionally, fresh cut fruit and veggies can be stored in a insulated cooler bag like the following recommendations:
LONG LASTING COOLER BAG
RTIC Soft Cooler 30 Can, Insulated Bag
$129.99
The RTIC soft insulated cooler can keep your food and drinks cool for up to 24 hours. It’s a floating cooler that’s perfect for a day at the pool or lake. It’s lightweight, durable and features a leak-proof zipper, it’s suitable for multiple uses and comes in different sizes.
ULTIMATE LEAKPROOF COOLER BAG
YETI Hopper Flip 12 Portable Soft Cooler
$250.00
The Yeti Hopper Flip 12 is a personal cooler with ColdCell Insulation, a leakproof HydroLok Zipper and high-density fabric that can hold up to 12 cans plus ice. Its DryHide Shell is waterproof and resistant to punctures, abrasions, and UV rays, making it suitable for full days in the wild.
BUDGET-FRIENDLY COOLER BAG
Lifewit Cooler Bag 50 Can Collapsible and Insulated
$29.99
This cooler bag is made of durable 600D Oxford cloth and suitable for whole-family picnic essentials, camping, hiking, BBQs and shopping. It features wide opening, 2 side mesh pockets and a deep front pocket for storing items. It’s designed with a padded handle and a detachable shoulder strap for easy carrying, and it can be folded flat for space-saving storage.
Exercise
Exercise is important for maintaining physical and mental well-being, and it’s just as important when living on the road. Even though you may not have access to a gym or workout equipment, there are still plenty of ways to stay active. One of the simplest and most effective ways to do this is by taking a 30-minute walk or hike every day. This not only helps to keep your body in shape, but it also provides an opportunity to explore the area you’re in and take in the sights and sounds around you. Additionally, walking and hiking can also have a positive impact on your mental health by reducing stress and anxiety. It will help you to maintain energy levels and flexibility, which are especially important when you are on the move. It can also help you to sleep better and manage your weight. Overall, staying active while living on the road can be a bit more challenging, but it’s still crucial for your overall health and well-being.
Keep your feet strong by opting for a pair of minimalist, barefoot, zero drop shoes. Learn more about the benefits of going barefoot.
Here’s a couple that we highly recommend:
BAREFOOT SHOE recommendation
WHITIN Barefoot & Minimalist Shoe
$41 – $44
These shoes features a zero-drop, non-elevated sole for proper posture and balance, an adjustable hook-and-loop closure at the instep for a secure fit, a removable sockliner for a more barefoot feeling, and a wide toe box for flexibility.
Aside from walking and hiking, practicing yoga is also a great way to get your blood circulating and maintain a healthy body and mind while living on the road. Yoga can benefit both your physical and mental well-being by improving flexibility, balance, strength, and reducing stress and anxiety.
We highly recommend this yoga mat, as it is suitable for both gentle yoga flow and high-intensity workouts, it’s thick enough to provide cushioning for joints and enough traction for stability during practice, it is lightweight and easy to carry, making it perfect for traveling and it’s durability will make it last for many outdoor yoga sessions to come.
YOGA MAT recommendation
Retrospec Solana Yoga Mat 1″ Thick w/Nylon Strap for Men & Women
$33.98
Extra thick for comfort and balance: Solana firm 1-inch extra thick fitness mat w/ mat strap alleviates stress on pressure points such as joints, hips, hands, and knees.
Mental health
Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, and van life can be tough on the mind sometimes. Being isolated and away from loved ones can be difficult, and the absence of a regular routine can make it challenging to manage stress. To counter this, make sure to keep in touch with loved ones through phone calls, video chats, or social media. Even if you’re traveling alone or with a partner, it’s beneficial to take time out of your day to reconnect with yourself by meditating in a peaceful spot. It doesn’t have to be for a long duration, even a few minutes can make a difference. This is a time when you can clear your mind and fully focus on the present moment, practicing gratitude for all the blessings in your life. Journaling is also a great way to destress and gain clarity. Try stream-of-consciousness journaling, where there is no need to be coherent or logical, you just jot down your thoughts as they come to mind, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Just get it all out of your system. These practices will help you maintain a healthy mindset and keep your spirits high while on the road!
Final thoughts
Van life can be a wild ride but it doesn’t mean putting your health and wellness on the back burner. It is a time to really connect with your mind, body, and soul. Listen to your body and provide it with what it needs. Taking care of yourself through the food you consume, exercise, and stress management will make your van life experience more fun and fulfilling!
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-Roam Offgrid
