escaping completely while vacationing

Healthy on the Road :: A Mindful Return

How to Get Back into Swing of Things after vacationingLast month, Healthy on the Road challenged you to take time out to check in on your next trip. “Vacating” completely from physical, mental and spiritual health while on the road leaves you feeling sluggish when the vacation is over and the reality of returning home hits.

The Challenge The specific challenge, aside from mindlessly laying poolside or playing paddle ball on the beach, was to try and engage in at least one hour of renewal---physically, emotionally and spiritually---each day you were away. To make this happen, throwing some semblance of routine into your travels was they key to complete renewal. Unless you’re travelling for business, this routine thankfully doesn’t involve getting to work on time or juggling a million errands, it’s more of a daily rhythm that your body will thank you for.

A Mindful Return Let’s take a look at how applying mindfulness while away can have a huge impact on the state you return home in.

Moderation Over-consumption of food and alcohol is a common problem when travelling (though, while away it sure doesn’t feel like one!). The typical reaction once home: either continue the trend, thrust oneself into some fad diet or detox program, or feel deflated by lack of self-control. So here’s a challenge that can be considered a part of the daily travel renewal challenge: while away, enjoy the delicious food and drink in moderation, but also indulge in loads of the healthy fare. This will naturally bring moderation into your daily routine, without feeling like you’re depriving yourself.

Sleep Get some sleep!!! It has a huge effect on what we eat and a lack causes us to crave those short-term, energy-boosting carbs. While away, try your best to catch some good ZZZs, and depending on your time-zone, wake around a similar time as you would at home (but no need to rush out the door!).

A Rest After a Rest When you return home, build in 4 days to a week to get back into the swing of things. Your body will thank you, because as funny as this sounds, most of us seem to need a rest post 'restful' vacation. Continue to get a lot of sleep, and focus on moderation in your eating.

Be Inspired Bring some inspiration from your travels into your home kitchen (mmm...homemade salsa!). Once home, resist jumping on some crazy diet train, or making promises to yourself that are too big to keep. Aim to eat and drink less of what you know you shouldn’t, and engage in daily physical activity. It’s really that simple: a sure-fire way to re-calibrate the body after one too many coronas or a few too many helpings of guacamole!

{When she’s not training clients or being trained by her dog Zuzu, Leah writes Healthy on the Road, published the first Thursday of every month.}

[photo by oksidor]