Tips to help you enjoy a stress-free cottage weekend

(NC) Escaping the city for a few days sounds like relaxing time, but not sticking to a regular schedule can be taxing for many of us, especially those with chronic health conditions. To make sure your time away leads to you feeling refreshed and not like you need a vacation from your vacation, check out these tips:

Sleeping. Fun times, late-night chats and parties can keep us up into the wee hours of the morning by the lake. But going to sleep at different times on weekdays and weekends can affect our sleep habits, making it harder to fall asleep and wake up come Monday. Poor sleep can then affect your immune system and put you at a higher risk for disease. At the cottage, try to stick to a schedule as much as possible, and avoid too much caffeine or alcohol both of which can affect your sleep.

Eating. Binging on hot dogs and hamburgers can feel good while you’re eating, but pausing your healthy eating goals on cottage weekends can negatively impact your metabolism and you may have a harder time maintaining a healthy weight. To avoid temptation, do some mindful meal prep on Thursday and bring ingredients for the same kind of nutritious meals you would eat at home. Pack healthy snacks that keep you full for longer, like trail mix, Greek yogurt and veggies.

Medication. If you’re on a regimented medication schedule for a condition like diabetes, it can be harder to stay healthy when you’re away from home. In fact, 42 per cent of people living with diabetes declared to be stressed when thinking of going on vacation versus 25 per cent of people with a flexible medication schedule. To stay on track at the cottage, use a smart blood glucose meter that makes testing easier, like the Accu-Chek Guide System, which features a uniquely designed test strip with a wider dosing area. It seamlessly connects to the mySugr app, which makes it easy to log blood sugar and meals and more so you can enjoy a relaxing time away from home.