Imagine sandy beaches and pristine waters, you can’t help but get excited about your next vacation, but there’s one thing. What about the healthy habits that you have built over time, like working out? Fitness may not be the first thing that comes to mind when on vacation but spending so much time away can throw you off course. That’s why it is still crucial to maintain an exercise routine even when you are away.
The Benefits of Working Out on Vacation
Whether to work out or not during vacation is a personal decision. You may view the time off as a chance to completely detach from daily routines, including working out, or still keep up the momentum and sneak in some light exercises when you get the chance. However, to be safe, you want to consider the long-term effects on your daily habits. You can still enjoy your vacation and work out, finding a healthy balance between the two, and here’s why:
- Working out keeps your body active, now that you will likely be spending so much time relaxing. You won’t be sluggish or feel too tired by the end of the day.
- The more you exercise, the better it is for your mental health. It helps you take your mind off, especially when you experience anxiety whenever you travel.
- The best way to make the most of your vacation is to stay active and feel re-energized. You can travel around the area, sightsee, and engage in various daily activities without feeling stressed or tired.
Pack Workout Essentials For Vacation
The first thing to do is pack everything that you will need. When you have basics like resistance bands, a yoga mat, running shoes, and a skipping rope, you can work out anywhere. Bands are light to carry, easily fitting in your bags and you can use them for various exercises, achieving a full-body workout. Also, remember to pack your yoga clothes to make exercising easier and more fun.
Explore Your Destination on Foot
The goal is to stay active during your vacation and what better way than by working out while taking in your new surroundings? Taking walks to explore the scenic views of the waters, parks, and trails is a fun activity and the best part is that you sneak in a low-impact exercise while at it. You can avoid the tour rides when it’s a short distance and walk there, immersing yourself in the scenic views along the way.
Utilize Your Hotel Gym
Fortunately, many hotels have fitness facilities for their guests, so you can always confirm that prior to your trip. You can ask for details about the equipment available and utilize these facilities during your vacation. Many hotel gyms are not fully equipped, but you will likely find equipment like treadmills and stationary bikes. These, coupled with other strength training exercises, will provide a full workout.
Set Aside Time To Meditate and Practice Mindfulness
During your short vacation time, you want to do so many activities and explore various places, which can be stressful. Meeting so many people and packing all the activities into one day leaves you feeling overwhelmed, which is why you need a few minutes to yourself to sit in silence, think, and meditate. Consider practicing mindfulness exercises or yoga first thing when you wake up or last thing before bed.
Pack Healthy Snacks
With all the festivities and unlimited yummy food options, it is easy to overindulge and forget about your healthy eating habits. It helps to still be mindful of what you eat, and while at it, ensure that the snacks you munch during your field trips and days out are healthy. Make sure you pack healthy snacks to eat along the way, like mixed nuts, fruit mixes, and protein bars.
Enjoy, But Watch Your Alcohol Intake
It can be tempting not to overindulge when you have unlimited access to drinks. The high-calorie levels and feeling of dehydration can set you back on your fitness journey. You want to drink moderately and drink a lot of water in between. Excessive alcohol drinking is unhealthy and can be risky unless controlled.
Add These Workouts That You Can Do Anywhere
Don’t worry if you didn’t pack workout equipment or if your hotel doesn’t have a gym. There are simple exercises that you can do anywhere and without any equipment that will keep you active.
- Lunges
You can do lunges in your hotel room or even outdoors on the beach. A plus is that you will have to work harder to stay stable, which is a great workout.
- Planks
Planks can be done anywhere. Doing 30-second planks (or longer) will help you strengthen your core and improve your posture.
- Crunches
Crunches are also excellent exercises when you want to trim your waistline, and you can do them anywhere.
- Dips
Steady movements during dips also count as excellent exercise, and you can even do them against the bathtub ledge.
- Push-ups
Another classic workout that can be done from anywhere is the push-ups. They help you tone your upper body and define your arms.
Relax and Enjoy
Vacation is meant to be enjoyed, and even while trying to exercise, remember not to overdo it and give your body as much rest as it needs. Dedicate only a fraction of your day to working out and spend the rest of the time enjoying your vacation time.
Conclusion
It takes a while to create healthy habits and dedication to maintain them. If you are going on vacation, it helps to keep up healthy eating and frequent exercising, or else it will interfere with your progress. Besides, staying active keeps you energized and maintains a healthy body and mind so you can fully enjoy your time off. Luckily, there are various ways to incorporate activity into your trip, like using the hotel gym, going for a run or jogging at the beach, meditating, or doing equipment-free workouts like lunges and push-ups. Remember to strike a balance and enjoy your vacation while at it.
