How to stay healthy while living in a van full time

Dia duit agus fáilte – that’s Irish for hello and welcome – to my blog about living a fabulous life while also living with a chronic disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis. This post is about staying healthy while living in a van.

Because I have rheumatoid arthritis and two other chronic illnesses – epilepsy and depression – it is essential that health is a priority – in this post you will learn tricks to stay healthy while living in a van (or anywhere, really.) 

I want to share the habits I practice to heal my symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis now that we’re living in a van. I truly believe we have more power over our health than many in the conventional western medicine world would have us believe. I have successfully put my RA in remission through diet, lifestyle and healthy choices; it is not always easy but it is definitely worth it. Whether you choose to take medication or not, making the healthiest choices you can every day will improve all aspects of your life.

The below ideas of how to stay healthy while living in a van work no matter where you live!! That said, I have written this post specifically for those of us who enjoy a nomadic life or live in a tiny home as both of these living arrangements have unique challenges when it comes to practicing healthy habits. Trying to decide if van life is for you? Read this post.

One of my biggest concerns before we moved into our campervan conversion was how I would maintain my healthy habits and stay healthy while living in a van full time. The good news is that I am making it work and that means, you can too.

What are the core elements to stay healthy when living in a van?

There are no big secrets to staying healthy; if you address the following core tenets of a healthy life, your body, mind and spirit will respond in ways that reduce chronic symptoms, including pain, brain fog and insomnia. I discuss many of these topics in other posts here on this blog; be sure to check them out.

How do we stay healthy when living full time in van?

We designed and built our campervan conversion around our health needs, hobbies and the cornerstones we use to maintain health and for me to keep my RA in remission. If you need practical help with the design or build of your van, check out this page.

Some of the things we did right (coded by the health benefits we get from each):

• We designed the kitchen around the way eat – healthy, mostly plant-based, homecooked meals. 2, 6
• The floor plan is designed to fit my yoga mat perfectly. 1, 3, 7, 8
• We created space to store the bikes and gear so it would be easy to use them regularly. 3, 6, 7
• We installed a custom mattress and brought our favorite pillows and duvet. 4, 6
• We mapped our journey to visit our four kids as well as friends around the country. 7, 9
• We quickly created a morning coffee routine when we both journal and wake up slowly. 1, 7, 9
• We had low expectations and did not subscribe to the Instagram-version of van life. 1, 7,
• We refused to install a TV; we have a computer if we’re desperate to watch a film. 6

Some of the adjustments we’ve made along the way:

• We simplified our meals and menu plans. 1, 2, 6, 7
• We have created space and methods where we can each be “alone.” 1, 7
• We’ve become more disciplined with regard to our healthy habits. 6
• We signed up for Planet Fitness, Glo, Masterclass and Spotify. 1, 3, 6, 7, 8
• We joined Harvest Hosts to give us options for where to spend quiet nights. 1, 4
• Tom retired from his job earlier than expected. 1, 7

Reduce stress to stay healthy when you live in a van

Studies show stress is a major culprit in many diseases and learning ways to reduce stress can dramatically improve your symptoms and experience of any disease you may have.

I suppose it depends on your perspective but I believe, and have experienced, that living in a van reduces stress, simplifies life and allows more time to practice self-care habits for your mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Read more about simple living as a van life couple.

Some of the best ways to minimize and reduce stress when living in a camper van full time are:

• Practice meditation and yoga with headphones and you can meditate in the passenger seat. I bring my mat into Planet Fitness and practice yoga in a quiet corner.
• Simplify wherever you can. Examples: choose ten meals that work easily in your van kitchen and rotate them; limit clothing; stay in one location as long as practical.
• Only buy food that nourishes and nurtures your body rather than stressing it. With limited space in your drawers and fridge, it makes sense to only bring the best food options into your van home.
• Exercise often, daily if possible. I walk and practice yoga, Tom cycles. We both hike, lift weights and ski. The great thing about living in a van is that we spend much of our time outside anyway which makes staying active easier.

How to maintain a healthy diet while living full time in a van

“Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” The perfect guidance from Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma. He goes on to qualify what he means by food: “Don’t eat anything your great grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food.”

Read this post about diet and rheumatoid arthritis. Some tips for maintaining a healthy diet while living in a van:

• Be sure to design your van kitchen with enough space and the right appliances to make homecooked meals simply and quickly.
• Have a blender to make veggie-packed smoothies.
• Fill the limited storage space you have with the healthiest food and meal options.
• Consider investing in the DuoCrisp Instapot. I bake bread and muffins, make fries and roasted veggies as well as using the pressure cooking function for stew, daal and more. 

How to exercise when you live full time in a campervan

If you have watched any van life videos, you know how essential it is to have a gym membership for the shower! We chose Planet Fitness and usually use their workout facilities also. In addition, we love to hike, we walk the dog often, we ski and cycle.

Studies suggest we should exercise at least 30 minutes daily. What are some ways to exercise while living full time in a van?

• Check out the All Trails app and find nearby walking, hiking or cycling trails wherever you happen to be.
• If you’re driving, be sure to locate a trail or Planet Fitness en route. Not only is this great for your physical health but it also gives your mind a break from the stress of driving.
• We have a stool and one kettle bell in the van so I can do my lower body/PT exercises no matter where we are.
• Park as far away from the store as practical to get in a few extra minutes of walking.

How to sleep well in your van

I have an ongoing battle with insomnia and have to be diligent about my sleep habits in order to win those fights. Here’s my post about sleep – how to get it and how to improve yours.

There are a few simple tricks to getting good sleep while living in your van:

• Buy the best mattress you can afford. Use your favorite pillows and covers. In other words, make your bed as comfy as possible.
• Use an eye mask to avoid light from disturbing your sleep. Consider ear plugs if noise is a concern. It takes up to 10 days to adjust to using either of these so give yourself time to feel the benefits.
• Find a bedtime routine that works for your van life. We walk the dog for 20-30 minutes when possible in the hour before it’s time to hit the hay.
• Turn off electronics and avoid food for at least one hour before bedtime.

Stay healthy with supplements

I have used supplements to heal my depression, my neurologist recommends 3 supplements to help my brain deal with epilepsy and my functional medicine physician put me on a full protocol to address the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. I know how important supplements are to my health. See post. It can be a challenge to create a supplement habit when living in a house so we knew we’d need to be more diligent when we moved into the van.

Here are some of our tricks for keeping a good supplement schedule while in the van:

• Store your supplements in an easy-to-access place.
• Create a routine around taking them. We take ours with breakfast.
• If you order supplements online, figure out where you will ship them so you don’t run out.
• Plan to check in with your functional medicine physician or doctor regularly to ensure you’re still on track with your supplement regimen.

Using good habits to stay healthy while living full time in a van

Making good habits and breaking bad ones can prove challenging but when you’re trying to heal your body naturally, that is what we must do. Before we moved into the van, I decided I would not have wine in our new home; that decision helped me kick the nightly glass of red and now I sleep much better.

Studies show it takes 66 days to form or break a habit so it is essential to cut yourself some slack, pick yourself up when you slip and remind yourself of the benefits of changing a particular habit. Read study.

Simple ways to build or break habits when you move into your campervan conversion:

• Want to spend more time learning? Use driving time for audio books or podcasts.
• Ready to quit TV/alcohol/sugar? Refuse to allow it into the van without restricting it in other locations to begin.
• Build new habits into your new routine. Get dressed and lace up those running shoes as soon as you get out of bed. Enjoy that morning cuppa with your journal and pen.
• Are you moving into the van for a better quality of life? Set your phone aside, remove social media apps, turn off notifications; practice being fully present to what is right in front of you.

How to nurture your mental and emotional health while living on the road

I write about the emotional impact of having rheumatoid arthritis (or any autoimmune/chronic disease) here. Taking time to nurture and heal our mental and emotional wellbeing is at least as important as looking after our physical bodies.

If you are not sure what tending to your mental or emotional health while living in a van looks like, here are some ideas to get you started:

• Some suggestions from above – meditate while in the passenger seat; read or listen to podcasts or audiobooks while driving; exercise regularly.
• Play brain-challenging games – chess, Mahjong or Scrabble, not on your phone but with another human!
• Take a break. Even van life can get stressful, especially if you’re doing a lot of driving or trying to juggle work with your new lifestyle. We have found that stopping refreshes and soothes body, mind and spirit.
• Ask for help or support. Just because you’re on the road doesn’t mean you can’t work with a therapist or counselor via phone or internet.

Yes, you can have a deep spiritual life while living full time in a van

It doesn’t matter what form your spiritual life takes; nurturing and prioritizing your spirit can reduce symptoms of RA and chronic pain. Like everything else, now that you plan to live in a van, your spiritual life will evolve.

Fortunately, technology allows us to expand our idea of spirituality and how to practice. Here are ways to deepen your connection to your higher power:

• If you prefer in-person experiences, be sure to scout for churches, temples, woods or classes ahead of time so you can plan your day and drive accordingly.
• Use apps, podcasts or audiobooks to learn and grow within your preferred tradition.
• Build your spiritual practices into the design of your van; it is no accident that my yoga mat fits perfectly between my kitchen cabinets. Plan ahead of your build if you want an altar, images or prayers etched on the wall to ground and uplift you as you travel?
• Stay connected to the people in your spiritual community through phone calls, letters, groups etc… Ask for support when you need it.

Maintaining and strengthening relationships while living in a van

We humans are social creatures who thrive when surrounded by loving, supportive people. Strong healthy relationships lead to less stress, better health, greater sense of purpose and a longer life. Read article. 

As half of a van life couple, I live in 84sqft with the man I love and we spend most of our time together which makes both of us happy. This doesn’t mean we don’t both need other relationships; how do we maintain friendships when we’re traveling? One of the huge benefits of living in a van for us is being able to visit our four kids and two grandchildren.

• Above I suggest reducing your use of social media and technology. Here, I acknowledge the power certain platforms offer to maintain and strengthen relationships. Use what works for you and your friends/family and ignore the rest.
• Send letters, cards or postcards as you wander the world; nothing says I love you quite like a handwritten note.
• Consider establishing a regular gathering. Use Zoom to get together over tea for a book club or learning session.
• Long distance relationships take time and practice; make time to reach out and connect with those most important to you and watch how the bonds strengthen and flourish.

Final thoughts

I was inspired to write this post when a stranger asked me how I managed to eat well while living in such a tiny space. I realized that making healthy choices can perhaps be a little more challenging when you live in a tiny home on wheels. And the truth is I trip up – forget my supplements, go days between meditations – but I tripped up when we lived in a house also so I try to cut myself some slack.

Do you live in a van or dream about van life, plan to change homes or stay where you are forever? It doesn’t really matter! The tips in this post can help you to stay healthy while living in a van, house, boat or apartment.

I hope you are inspired to try some out; please let me know how it goes in the comments below.