I’ve written about how to keep up with your fitness routine while you’re traveling, but what about exercising on travel day itself?
Remember that rest days are an important part of your exercise schedule, and you can just plan your rest day to coincide with travel day. I travel quite a bit, and unless I’m leaving late in the day and have time for a full workout in the morning, I don’t usually worry about getting a full workout in.
That said, I know that travel means I’m going to be sitting most of the day, probably cramped in an airplane seat, and that’s just not comfortable or, really, healthy for a body that was made to move. Therefore, I do try to move as much as possible on travel day. Here are some travel exercise tips for how to include more movement and have a healthier travel day.
Exercise before the trip if you can.
If I don’t have to be to the airport until noon, I do a regular workout in the morning. It helps my day feel more normal and makes it more likely that I will sleep on the plane! I make this as easy as possible for myself by packing the night before and being totally ready to go the next day.
And I definitely don’t miss my workout the day before my trip.
Avoid escalators and moving walkways.
Unless you have a heavy carry on, take the stairs every chance you get. If you have time and there’s a choice between a train and just walking the length of the airport, walk it.
Stay off the moving walkways. The space beside them is usually less crowded, anyway, and, unless you’re in a crazy hurry and plan to speed walk down the walkway, get some movement in by walking normally alongside it.
Walk around the airport.
You’re two hours early for your flight like a good traveler, right? Then use that time for a walk around the airport. I had an eight-hour layover recently, and I spent about four of those hours just walking back and forth through the airport. I love seeing all the people, and it gave me plenty of time to scout out the best place to eat dinner.
Unless you’re one of those people who works 80-hour weeks and travels extensively, don’t bother trying to do an actual workout in the airport. I’ve seen articles that suggest lunges and pushups and even a yoga sequence in the corner of the waiting area, but I don’t really see a need for this for the average person. First of all, you’re not dressed for it. You don’t want to work so hard that you’ll be sweaty and smelly on the plane, and if that’s the case then it’s something you could have done before you left that morning if you’d really wanted to.
Think about what you’re eating.
I’m definitely an airplane snacker, but I try to be sensible about it. Pack your own snacks so you have control over what you’re eating. I usually bring nuts and raisins, an apple, some cheese, crackers and peanut butter, homemade granola bars, and/or a sweet treat like chocolate or a sucker because I know if I don’t I’ll be super-tempted by the wide variety of overpriced junk food at the airport.
Most large airports have a wide variety of dining options, so why go for the fast food? If you’re in a hurry, stop by one of the little convenience stores. Lately, I’ve noticed an increase in the healthy options. At my last layover, I had sushi for lunch at the sushi restaurant, but the same restaurant had their rolls for sale in the shops. For a pre-boarding snack, I had a tray of hummus, carrots, and black olives. There were also a variety of salads and fruit cups to choose from. The healthy options are there amidst the muffins, white-bread sandwiches, and sugar-rich yogurt/granola cups.
On the plane, ask for water when the beverage cart goes by.
Move around on the plane.
Long flights can be brutally uncomfortable, so make a habit of annoying your seat partners by getting up to go to the bathroom, and maybe walking up and down the aisle once or twice before you get back to your seat (as long as that seatbelt light is off!). While in your seat, even simple things like rotating your ankles, stretching your legs out under the seat in front of you, flexing and relaxing your muscles, and rounding and arching your back (seated cat stretch — see more here) can make the ride more comfortable.
Move around when you’ve reached your destination.
Depending on the time of day, the weather, and whatever commitments you have, try to take a walk when you arrive. If nothing else, try this simple yoga sequence that you can do while you’re lying in bed before you fall asleep!
This is what I’ll be doing today–I’m catching a flight this evening! What do your travel days look like? What travel exercise tips do you have?