5 Tips to Stay Active on Vacation

It’s been a year since I took a proper vacation and I couldn’t be more excited to spend the next two weeks in Europe! We’ll be going to Mallorca, Ibiza, Milan, and Florence – so stay tuned for more travel posts! To say I’m excited to unwind and unplug with a glass of wine is an understatement, but one area I have changed in over the past year is how active I am even when I go on vacation. In the past I’ve gone away and completely let go of my health and fitness routine, only to come back sluggish and a few pounds heavier. The older I get, the more careful I am not to overdo it *too* much (you still have to live a little!) – and staying active even when I travel has become a huge part of it.

Why Staying Active is Important… Even on Vacation

If you’re normally very active and have a consistent routine down, you can afford to take a few days (or even a couple weeks) off without skipping a beat – but when fitness becomes a huge part of your daily routine, chances are you will stay want to keep it up somehow. It’s so easy to get out of a healthy routine when you’re on vacation which can easily translate to weight gain or inflammation. Getting out of sync with your sleep cycle, fitness routine, and diet can really throw off your digestion and gut health (google traveler’s constipation – it’s a thing). I’m all for indulging and letting loose, but not at the expense of the balance you’ve worked so hard to achieve.

Staying active on vacation doesn’t have to be hard or feel like a chore – packing a few key items and making small changes to your itinerary can help you ensure that you don’t fall off track too much!

5 Tips to Stay Active on Vacation:

1. Walk everywhere!

It’s the best way to see a new city and you might even stumble into a hidden gem you would have missed otherwise. Whenever I travel, I typically walk at least 7 to 10 miles a day (make sure you pack comfortable shoes!). This helps offset all of the yummy local foods you’ll be indulging in ; ). Bonus points if you run around the neighborhood in your new location!

2. Bring equipment

If you insist on working out properly but aren’t sure if you will have a gym around, pack lightweight equipment such as resistance bands or a jump rope. They’re compact and perfect for on the go workouts – plus, you can use them anywhere, even in small hotel rooms!

3. Choose destinations with activities in mind

If staying active on vacation is important to you, try to choose vacation destinations with this in mind. Try to find spots where you can run outside, hike, ski, or bike. If you’re on an island, try snorkeling or surfing. Going on vacation doesn’t mean you have to sit around all day!

4. Do your research in advance

You can always look online beforehand to see if there are local fitness studios you can try or a hotel in your gym. This way you can plan accordingly and even schedule your workouts in advance.

5. Pack gym clothes! 

This is a no-brainer, but bringing gym clothes along (even though they take up precious space in your suitcase!) can help motivate you to workout. Always pack gym shoes (I really love my adidas Ultra Boost sneakers for travel!) and lightweight, sweat wicking clothes. Even a pair of leggings or gym shorts with a sports bra is enough – you can always wash and reuse if you don’t have much space left in your bag. I brought my sneakers with me to Europe – I just got these last month and can’t stop wearing them. They’re super lightweight, so comfortable, and cute enough to wear with an outfit to go sightseeing.

Some of my vacation essentials below:

1. adidas leggings

2. Swell water bottle

3. adidas Ultra Boost sneakers

4. Resistance bands

5. Jump rope

How do you stay active on vacation? Is it something you prioritize?
Though this post is sponsored by adidas, all thoughts and opinions are my own.