How to Stay Active on Vacation

When planning a vacation, the last thing you want to think about is what workout you are going to fit in, and you shouldn’t have to. Vacations are supposed to be a break from everyday life, a time to rest and reset both physically and mentally. 

Working out shouldn’t feel like a chore or something you have to check off everyday. Instead, it can be an extension of that reset, a way to keep your body feeling good and energized while you enjoy a change of scenery. 

You don’t have to stick to your routine or spend hours in a gym. Movement can look different on vacation, and that’s the beauty of it. Whether you are exploring a new city, walking on the beach, or trying something new, staying active can feel natural, fun, and refreshing. Here’s a few simple ways to keep your body moving and making the most of what your vacation has to offer:

Movement Without Thinking About It

Sometimes staying active on vacation doesn’t require a workout, just leaning into the movement that comes with exploring a new place. Choosing to walk instead of ubering not only gets your steps in, but allows you to get a more in depth view and meaningful experience of your destination. Whether you are wandering through shops, walking on the beach, hiking a trail, or sightseeing, all these moments count. You are more active than you think, you just aren't labeling it as a workout, and that's what makes it so nice.

Keep it Short and Sweet

When it comes to vacation movement, less is more. A quick 20 minute workout, a short walk, or a simple stretch can boost your mood and set the tone for the day without drawing from your time exploring. There’s no need for a full, structured routine. Moving your body in small but meaningful ways is what makes you feel good without it being a task you have to complete. While on vacation, it’s not about doing everything, it’s about doing something!

Try Something New

Vacation is the perfect place to try something different and step out of your normal routine. Look for ways to make your movement part of your experience. Maybe that means playing tennis at your resort, trying beach volleyball, hiking a new trail, or signing up for a local workout class. When movement is something new and you are excited about it, it becomes something you want to do, not something you have to do.

Listen to Your Body

While staying active can help you feel your best, it is also just as important to rest. Vacation is the time to recover, so that includes rest. Some days can be filled with activity and others might call for slowing down, and that’s okay because both are equally as valuable! Listen to your body and find a balance that will help you return to normal life feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world.

At the end of the day, staying active on vacation isn’t meant to be a burden or chore for you, it is about feeling good in your body and enjoying where you are. Movement doesn’t have to be intense and structured to be meaningful. Just walking a little more, trying something new, or taking the time stretch and reset. By shifting your mindset of working out from something you “have to do” to simply moving in ways that feel good, being active becomes something that adds to your experience. 

Be Well, Auburn.