Stay Active on Vacation

Happy May! This month brings warmer weather, blooming springtime flowers, and a long weekend that can make for a nice vacation. While a vacation is always a welcome break from the normal routine, don’t let your fitness routine fall off track while you’re away. Keep reading for some ideas on how to stay active while enjoying your break from work, as well as a short workout you can do in the comfort of your hotel room!

Rent a bike. Biking allows you to enjoy more sights in your vacation town than you would from a car, and it’ll help you feel a little more like a local. You can pull off to the side when you see some interesting views or shops that you’d like to checkout.

Park further away. Most people try to find the closest space in relation to where they are headed so choosing to park further away not only increases your odds at finding an open spot, but it also adds more steps into your daily activity. Remember to shoot for 10,000 steps per day!

Sight-see. No matter where you visit on your trip, sight-seeing is a must. If you’re going somewhere with nice outdoor weather, use this as an opportunity to explore the area. Ask the locals at a restaurant or shop where they suggest visiting, or wander through the nearest bustling area. If it’s a rainy day, look for some indoor exhibits at museums in town.

Take the longer route. Similar to the idea of finding a parking spot, people tend to opt for the shortest route when getting to a destination. If you are walking or biking and you’re not on a set schedule, take your time! Don’t let the app on your phone convince you to save 5 minutes. Instead, think of it as adding 5 minutes onto your time of daily physical activity.

Don’t forget the daily workout. If you are one of those determined people who can wake up early and hit the gym before your day really begins, there’s no reason to forgo a workout when you’re on vacation. Lots of hotels nowadays have a small gym with cardio and strength equipment. You don’t need fancy equipment to get the job done, just make use of what is there and you will feel much better while treating yourself on vacation. If there is no available gym where you are staying, don’t fret; you can exercise in your room! You can use your body weight for exercises like pushups or triceps dips on the edge of your bed, or you can use a suitcase or backpack for squats or bicep curls. Cardio can even be completed in a hotel room, with exercises such as jumping jacks or burpees. Below is a 30 minute total body workout you can do if all you have is a small space:

Complete each exercise for 30 seconds and rest (or active rest, ex: jog in place) for 15 seconds
1. Jump squats
(or fast body weight squats)

2. Pushups 

3. Burpees 

(or half burpees-leave out the jump at the end)

4. Mountain climbers

5. Speed skaters

6. Plank 

(with alternating leg and arm lifts for added difficulty)

7. Russian twists

Rest as needed and repeat circuit 4 more times for a total of 5 rounds