In my first blog, I shared the start of my wellness journey, but I wondered whether it would be something I could maintain. The sternest test always comes in the shape of a holiday. I’m that person who tends to let themselves go, using “switching off” from the daily grind as an excuse. In the past, holidays meant having at least one drink every night, skipping exercise in favour of sleep and eating whatever I wanted. Sound familiar?
This holiday proved very different. I’d started my wellness journey and was feeling good - something I wanted to maintain. Could I do it? Yes! Here’s how.
Before departing on our family holiday, my wife and I packed the supplements we knew we’d need. First up were NAD‑boosting supplements. Niacin (vitamin B3) is used by the body to make nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), a coenzyme that helps convert food into energy (ods.od.nih.gov). I hoped that supporting my NAD levels would keep my energy steady during long days in the sun and pool, and aid recovery after a heavy meal or the odd drink.
Although I’m diligent about using SPF daily, with four kids I can be complacent about my own skin care, focusing more on covering them up. I love swimming in the ocean when given the opportunity; salt, sun and sand can take a toll on skin. So I packed collagen capsules as well. Collagen is the body’s most abundant protein, forming a scaffold that provides strength and structure (medicalnewstoday.com). People use exogenous collagen to improve skin elasticity (medicalnewstoday.com), which made sense while spending hours in the elements.
Personally, I cannot stand jet lag - it can make you lose days on holiday and disrupt your eating patterns. Magnesium is a staple in my supplement cabinet because it helps with nightly sleep. Various studies suggest magnesium may promote better sleep by lowering stress hormones, increasing melatonin and helping regulate neurotransmitters like GABA (medicalnewstoday.com). Taking magnesium before bed, along with some relaxation techniques, helped me drift off despite the unfamiliar time zone and the excitement of the trip.
The final addition to my routine was liquid cordyceps, a mushroom supplement grown in Spain. We started a 30‑day course before we left and continued it on holiday. Cordyceps has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to fight fatigue, and current research suggests it may increase ATP production and improve how muscles use oxygen during exercise (healthline.com). That seemed fitting for keeping up energy levels while on vacation.
I’m also happy to report that I made time for some form of exercise every day of the holiday. Why? I’ve learned that when you’re feeling well, continuing the habits that got you there reinforces that feeling. The first day was the hardest - I had to force myself into the gym but once I got moving everything became easier, and exercising continued to make me feel great. Combined with sun, sea, time with the family, good food and a moderate amount of alcohol, I came back feeling more refreshed than ever.
