Just because you’re on vacation doesn’t mean that you need to abandon all aspects of your fitness journey. While you may not be able to work out as often as you want to, there are still several ways to stay active. The key to staying active during this time is planning, planning, and some more planning! So, while enjoying yourself might be at the top of your list of things to do, there’s still room for you to stay fit in a way that fits into your schedules, so here are five helpful tips for staying active when you’re on vacation.
1. Align your expectations
If you have a structured fitness regimen while at home, it is unlikely that you'll be able to maintain it while on vacation. Let's imagine that your accommodation doesn’t have a gym, then locating a gym near you and paying for a month-long subscription is downright uneconomical, especially if you’re only staying for a few days. Even if this isn’t an issue for you, in the midst of all your vacation activities, you may not always have the time to stick to your daily exercise routine.
Based on all these random factors, it is important to manage your expectations beforehand, so you don’t beat yourself up if you can’t maintain your regular workout. Instead, try and remember that doing even 50 percent of your normal workout while on vacation is an accomplishment to be proud of.
2. Do your research
Before traveling, carry out some research on the location you'll call home for a few days. If you can find a gym near you that offers a weekly or daily membership payment setup, that'll be great. You see, your workout while on vacation is highly dependent on the free time you have, which can vary from day to day, so a single day pass option at a gym would be the most realistic route. Also, find out if the gym holds regular fitness classes. Then, go-ahead to research parks and jogging/running trails that you can utilize for exercise. The key is to plan in advance so that you are prepared when you get there.
3. Pack some equipment
While you may not be able to pack heavyweights in your suitcase, there's some other workout equipment that you can fit in your box. Consider packing some resistance bands and a skipping rope, as well as some light dumbbell weights. This equipment can be useful especially if you cannot find a gym near your hotel or Airbnb. They can also help you get your cardio and strength training workouts in during any short break you have in the middle of your activities.
4. Use your room
Sometimes, you may not feel like leaving your room at all, but you still want to get a workout in. Here’s an idea for you, utilize your room! Your room is especially useful for times when you’ve had a great meal and need to move around a bit to help with your digestion.
Even more, exercising can be a form of heartburn relief if you’re experiencing discomfort after eating. In these cases, your room is actually the best and most accessible workout spot. You don’t need to do anything too strenuous, try jogging on the spot, some chair squats, and even abdominal crunches to get you started.
5. Take advantage of every chance you get
Planning ahead is great, but sometimes you get there and realize that your plans are simply not going to work. Don’t get discouraged. Instead, try and make use of every opportunity you can to get a little bit of exercise in. One simple thing you can do is to walk as much as possible. With your phone as a GPS, you can take long walks to different locations around the town.
This is also a great chance for you to sightsee, so that’s killing two birds with one stone. Make use of the workout equipment you packed and get a workout in. You can even use online exercise videos to workout in your room. The great thing is that some of them don’t even require any equipment.