Summer often means travel. Whether it's a weekend getaway, a family reunion, a beach trip, or a longer vacation, many of us find ourselves away from our normal routines this time of year.
And that's okay.
One of the biggest mistakes people make is believing they have only two options: follow their routine perfectly or completely abandon it until they get home. In reality, there is a lot of room in between.
When I travel, I don't forget my goals, but I also don't stress too much if my routine gets a little wonky for a few days. Vacations are meant to be enjoyed. They're opportunities to make memories, experience new places, and spend time with people we care about.
That doesn't mean every choice has to be perfect.
My approach is usually to make better choices overall and not worry about getting everything exactly right. If I'm going to indulge in something, though, it had better be worth it. That drink, ice cream, or cheesy, fried appetizer had better be the best I've tasted in my entire life, because otherwise I'm probably having one sip or one bite and moving on.
The same mindset applies to exercise.
If I don't get my usual two or three strength-training sessions in during a trip, it's not the end of the world. I'm not going to lose muscle that fast. In fact, I often tell myself that perhaps my body needs the extra recovery. The same goes for my step count. Sometimes travel days, weather, or family activities make it difficult to hit my usual numbers.
There's not reason to beat yourself up over it.
At the same time, vacations can be a great opportunity to keep moving in different ways. Bodyweight exercises require no equipment and can be done almost anywhere. Squats, lunges, wall sits, bridges, pushups, planks, dead bugs, and even pull ups can help maintain strength while you're away from home. You can even make many of these exercises easier or harder simply by changing your body position using an incline or decline.
Walking is another one of my favorite travel strategies. It doesn't have to be a dedicated workout. A short walk after a meal, even at a leisurely pace, is a great way to keep your body moving and maintain the habit of daily activity. Whether you're exploring a new town, strolling along the beach, or simply walking around the hotel property, it all counts. So do the stairs!
The goal isn't to return home having followed your routine perfectly. The goal is to return home without feeling like you have to start over.
Health and fitness aren't built by what happens during one vacation. They're built by what you consistently do over months and years. A few days of flexibility won't erase your progress any more than a few days of perfect habits will transform it.
As you head into your summer travels, give yourself permission to enjoy the experience. Make reasonable choices, move when you can, and remember that consistency doesn't require perfection.
Next time we'll talk about the anchor habits that help keep us grounded when life gets busy and schedules become less predictable.
Until then, enjoy the adventure and trust the habits you've already built.