The new year is right around the corner. And while our health resolutions are still fresh in our minds, it’s important to incorporate healthy habits into our traveling assignments. In this article, we provide health-on-the-road checklists that travel nurses can use while they’re living and working in a different state, ensuring that they stay consistent with their health goals for the coming year year.

Finding Housing: Tips for Finding a Good Home Away from Home

Before you even go on the long drive or hop on an airplane for your next travel assignment, it’s important to scout for a good place to stay, essentially your home away from home, that will cater to your wants and needs. Here are some helpful tips to get you started on finding great housing:

• Find housing options on Airbnb, Furnished Finder, hotel websites that offer extended stays, and even Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. You can create a spreadsheet to compare options.
• Find a place that includes full utilities (such as water, electricity, trash, gas, internet, and cable), so you won’t need to set them up for the weeks you’ll be staying there.
• If you’re driving to your travel assignment, look for a space with a dedicated parking space. If you’ll be relying on public transportation, make sure you’re located near bus or train stations.
• If you can go to the location at least a few days or a week earlier than your assignment start date, you can get a better idea of the place you’re renting.
• Find a place that prioritizes what matters most to you. For example, if you prefer to cook your meals at home, prioritize housing options that provide a full kitchen.

Your First Week in Housing: A Health Setup Checklist

Here are some helpful things to do and add to your travel nurse “first-week-in-housing” checklist:

• Scout nearby places where you can walk, run, or go to the gym.
• Look for nearby grocery stores where you can buy nutritious food and snacks for meal prepping.
• It’s also a good idea to scout for nearby restaurants, cafes, or delis that serve healthy and filling meals, which can be handy when you’re too tired to cook.
• Make sure that your new place has a first aid kit.

Food: Stay Fueled Without a Full Kitchen

You can eat healthily even if you don’t have access to the kitchen — including your favorite pots and pans you’re used to at home — you can still make and store healthy meals to work and eat after work. After all, most extended-stay hotels and short-term rentals provide a mini fridge and microwave, which can be used to create simple and healthy meals.

Here are some travel nurse meal prep tips that you can do without a full kitchen:

• Buy nutritious food that won’t spoil easily and is easy to prepare or just grab for an easy snack, such as oatmeal, protein bars, nuts, and dried fruits.
• Opt for ready-to-eat foods that can be easily portioned into meals for the days you’re working, such as rotisserie chicken, salad greens, cut veggies, and even cut fruits.
• Stock up on healthy frozen meals that you can heat up via microwave after work.

Sleep: Resetting Your Body in a New Space

Getting quality sleep is essential for all, including travel nurses working demanding shifts in an unfamiliar environment. Here are some tips on how to sleep well in extended-stay hotels or short-term rentals as a nurse:

• Bring a pillow or a blanket that you like from home.
• Get blackout curtains, especially if you’re working the night shift. You can also bring your favorite eye mask to keep light out while you rest.
• Make sure that your room’s at a comfortable and cool temperature level.
• Avoid scrolling on your phone before you go to sleep.
• Create a sleep routine that will help your body know that you’re about to sleep, such as reading, journaling, or taking a shower.