If you’re like most people, you like to do your best to keep in shape and stay healthy. The problem is that it’s easy to do that when you have a daily routine, but it often goes out the window when you take a vacation and find yourself adjusting to a totally different lifestyle. (Image Credit: นิธิ วีระสันติ / Pixabay)
So what exactly do we need to do to stay healthy on vacation? These 10 tips will keep you ift and fresh while away from home for awhile.
Staying Healthy on Vacation
1. Take your necessities
While it’s true that nothing is really that necessary for you to have a good workout, it’s good to know what it’s like to have some go-to gear. Whether you’re taking alkaline water in your carry-on or a foam-roller to aid in your recovery, just make sure you take what you need. And if you’re struggling for space, learn how to pack smarter.
2. Check out the facilities
If you’re staying at a hotel then there’s a good chance that it will have a gym. Likewise, if you’re taking a cruiseline from NYC, there’s a good chance that the ship will have facilities that will be available for you to use. In fact, make a point of checking which facilities will be available before I book anything.
3. Eat healthily
I’m not saying that you can’t have an ice cream on the beach or that you’ll have to make major sacrifices while you’re on holiday. You just need to be aware of what you’re eating and to try to consume treats in moderation. If you need to, you can also download an app like Cronometer to track your nutrition and to count calories.
4. Go for walks
This is also a great way to see more of the place that you’re visiting. Consider downloading a route planning app like WalkIt and using that to plan out the routes that you’ll take. If you plan well and follow through with your plan, you can make sure that you see as much of your destination as possible.
5. Do some HIIT
HIIT (high-intensity interval training) is designed to allow you to squeeze as much training as you can into as short an amount of time as possible. There are plenty of sites out there that can provide you with some guidance and inspiration, so familiarise yourself with the basics and consider a little HIIT on your vacation. That way, you can keep more of your time free and spend more time having fun.
6. Hire a bike
Hiring a bike is a decent alternative to taking public transport and has the added advantage of helping to keep you fit. Some cities, like Amsterdam, are particularly well-suited for cycling, and this little hack will help you to be more efficient, squeezing in a little workout every time you head from one place to another.
7. Don’t forget your medication
If you’re on regular medication, the last thing that you want to do is to accidentally leave it behind. I’ve made this mistake before and let me tell you, it’s neither easy nor convenient to replace missing medication when you’re away from home, and in a foreign country in particular. You’re better off just making sure that you take it with you.
8. Monitor your breathing
Keeping an eye on your breathing will help you to calm yourself in stressful situations or to overcome any fears or phobias that you might be dealing with. It’s a good practice for your mental health in general, but it also functions as a powerful tool that you can take with you and tap into everywhere you go.
9. Sleep well
Sleep is an important tool that helps our minds and our bodies to heal, but sometimes when we’re on vacation, we end up staying up late and getting up early to make the most of our time. The quality of our sleep can suffer, too. That’s why it’s so important for us to make sure that we still sleep well!
10. Make it fun
Ultimately, you’re on vacation, so you owe it to yourself to make it as fun as possible. The good news is that looking after your mind and body is rewarding in and of itself, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to make it fun and to still enjoy your vacation.
Conclusion
Now you know what works, it’s up to you to find out what works for you. The most important thing is to remain conscious of the need to stay healthy and to make sure that you take steps to stay in shape. Knowing that you need to do something can take you a long way towards making sure that you actually do it.
Of course, we would also love to hear from you, so be sure to share your own health and fitness tips in the comments. There’s no reason why we can’t all learn from each other. Oh — and happy travels!