How to stay healthy and fit while travelling

Travelling is more often than not synonymous with chilling on the beach, relaxing and sipping on some fancy tropical cocktail while enjoying a beautiful sunset. There are, of course, the hard-core adventure-seekers kinds of travellers out there as well; but for most of us, travelling is the perfect excuse to relax, unwind and not do anything too hard or physically demanding. Am I right or right?

However,  because maintaining a workout routine (or good amount of physical exercise) is essential to your well-being, good mood and overall health, I want to show you today: how to stay healthy and fit while travelling. 

Whether you are about to embark on a year long trip or you are planning your next weekend getaway, these tips will help you achieve any healthy body goals. You will be able to have your fun in the sun, without having to destroy months of hard work regarding the state of health of your body. Indeed, we all know how hard it can be to get back on track after slacking off any healthy habits, even for 2 days. So, the best thing to do is simply to keep up with your healthy routine, wherever you are in the world.

All right, enough with the blablas. Let’s get into it, shall we? Here are a few easy tips on

How to Stay Healthy and Fit While Travelling

1. Find Your Motivation

This tip is number one because without motivation, chances are none of the tips that follow will be helpful at all. You need to find your own personal reasons as to why you want to keep your body strong and fit while you enjoy a little piece of paradise or your next crazy adventure. Trust me, while away from your comfort zone and your routine, it will get even easier to lose your motivation and to just throw in the towel. So, please find your motivation! Whatever it is: keep it close to you and remind yourself of it when the going gets tough.

2. Get creative 

This is another very important tip. While you will be away from home, your usual and favourite workout spots will simply be unavailable. Easy solution: find another way to keep moving your body. See the whole “world” as your new gym or workout space.Whether it’s a lovely beach, the staircase of an old temple, or the alley way of an old citadel (see picture above), the possibilities are endless. There are many ways that you can fit in a few minutes of workout into your day. With motivation and creativity, you can achieve anything. Get creative and remember to have fun with it!

 

3. Try some free online videos and fitness apps

These two have been a life saver for me in the past few months! Especially the Nike + Training Club App!! There are a few dozens or hundred kinds of free workouts on this app and most of them take 30 min or less. You can even design your own little monthly program! The best part for me with this app is that it requires little to no gym equipment. And when you need a couple of weights, then get creative. Use bottles of water or anything else that has some weight to it or do the exercise without them! Second, if you are not a big fan of apps, then Youtube videos can also help you stay fit while you travel. Whether you are into yoga or High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), you will find it all on Youtube and for free! You can workout in your hotel/hostel room or even take your workout outside whenever possible. Online technology is a great way to keep you motivated and best part of it all- it is FREE!

4. Take advantage of your surroundings

Working out outside is probably my favourite way to get my body moving. So whenever, I would settle down for a couple of days in a city, the first thing I would do is investigate my surroundings: Is there a beach, lake, park or empty field nearby? If so, then you bet I was out there the very next day for a good running session or a few training exercises outdoors. Sometimes, this meant running in SUPER HOT and HUMID weather or even bracing the crazy thick “haze” while staying in Singapore, for example. But no matter how harsh and uncomfortable the conditions got at times, at the end of my workout session, I was ALWAYS happier than when I began.

Ultimately, moving your body allows you to relax, blow off some steam and maintaing a healthy lymphatic system, which is essential for your immunity and well-being. Plus, the free endorphins are always worth the ride ;).

 

5. Try a new physical activity

At times, the weather or place where you are staying simply won’t allow you to workout at all. When that happens, you can always try something new that you usually wouldn’t do. Why not challenge yourself by using the stairs whenever possible? Or why not rent a bicycle to explore the city (instead of using motorized vehicles) ?Why not book an adventure trail trekking in the jungle or go for some kayaking ?

Or if you want something easier and more relaxing… why not try practising some yoga instead in your room (that usually requires very little space). Whatever it is, where there is a will, there is always a way.

 

I hope these few tips have given you some helpful ideas on how to stay healthy and fit while travelling. It might not be in the same conditions that you would find at home, but the results will be the same: a happy you in a healthy body.

Enjoy your travels, beautiful people!

Sarah.