How To Stay Active While Travelling: Simple Tips That Work

As some of you may know, I have just come back from three weeks overseas. Travelling can be a wonderful opportunity to explore new places, try new foods, and take a break from your daily routine. However, it can also make it challenging to maintain your regular exercise habits, leaving you feeling stiff, sluggish, or out of sync when you return home. The good news is that with a little planning and flexibility, it’s possible to stay active while travelling and return feeling energised, not depleted.

1. Walk Whenever You Can

Walking is one of the easiest ways to keep moving while exploring a new place. Opt for walking tours, choose to walk instead of taking taxis for shorter distances, and take the stairs

where possible. Not only will you be keeping your body active, but you’ll also experience your destination in a more authentic way, discovering hidden laneways, local cafes, and beautiful sights you might otherwise miss.

2. Pack Lightweight Equipment

Resistance bands are my go-to, and these can easily fit into your luggage and allow you to keep up strength or mobility training in your hotel room. A short Pilates or bodyweight routine in the morning can help loosen stiff travel muscles and set a positive tone for your day.

3. Use Your Surroundings

Parks, playgrounds, and beaches can double as your outdoor gym. Bodyweight exercises like squats, lunges, push-ups, planks, and stretching can be done anywhere, helping you maintain strength and mobility without the need for a gym. If you’re near water, swimming or a beach walk can be a refreshing way to stay active while soaking up your surroundings.

4. Schedule Movement Into Your Day

Travelling often comes with full days of sightseeing or events, making it easy to put off exercise. Aim to schedule in a walk or a quick mobility session in the morning or evening, or find ways to incorporate movement into your activities, such as hiking to a lookout, cycling around a city, or joining a local yoga or Pilates class.

5. Embrace Short Workouts

Remember, some movement is better than none. A 10-15 minute stretch or mobility session can help ease tension from long flights and keep your body feeling good while travelling.

6. Listen to Your Body

Travelling can be tiring, and it’s important to balance staying active with allowing your body to rest. Gentle stretches, walking, and low-impact movement can help you feel energised without adding to travel fatigue.

The Takeaway

Staying active while travelling doesn’t need to feel like a chore. With a little creativity and flexibility, you can maintain movement while enjoying your travels, keeping your body feeling strong, mobile, and energised. You may even discover new activities or a different pace that you can bring back into your routine at home. So, pack your walking shoes, a resistance band, and a willingness to move, and enjoy the benefits of staying active wherever you go.