If you’re like most working people in western society, you probably spend way too much time living a sedentary lifestyle. Spending hours sitting at work and then coming home too exhausted to do anything physical is a problem many people face. But one great way to fight back against this lifestyle is to make your next vacation an active one. Instead of tanning at the beach for six days, choose two of those days to do a hard physical activity. By resting your mind and pushing your body, you’ll be making the most out of your vacation time.
However, if your body isn’t used to doing hard work, you may find a physical vacation to be too much for you. To make this transition a little easier, here are three things you can do to prepare for taking a physically gruelling vacation.
Visit Your Doctor
Just like with introducing any new form of physical activity into your life, it’s a good idea to visit your doctor before your trip to ensure that your body can handle a little intense physical strain. According to Caitlin Bradford, a contributor to PassportHealthUSA.com, not only will a visit to a doctor before a trip help you get the green light for any activities you have planned, but it will also help to ensure that you have all the necessary vaccines for travel if you’re going out of the country. This will help you to get and stay healthy throughout your entire trip.
Limber Up
It’s very easy for a body that doesn’t get a lot of movement to become stiff and sore. This is something you’re going to want to avoid at all costs if you want to enjoy your physically gruelling vacation. To help with this, Cynthia Myers, a contributor to Livestrong.com, recommends some basic exercises that can help to limber up stiff joints and muscles. Think about the type of activities you’ll be doing on your trip and target those joints or muscle groups for the few weeks leading up to your vacation. This will help get those muscles ready for all you have to throw at them.
Work On Hydration
Being hydrated isn’t something you should only work on if you’re planning a physical vacation. However, it’s especially important if you plan to be exerting a lot of energy, sweating a lot, or being in a hot environment like many vacations necessitate. According to FamilyDoctor.org, water helps regulate body temperature, lubricate your joints, gives you energy and helps stave off muscle cramps. These are all things you’ll want in good working order if you plan to have a good time on your vacation. Make sure you’re drinking the right amount of water for your body in the days leading up to your vacation and all throughout your trip as well.
You can have just as much fun taking a physically gruelling vacation as you can on a relaxing one. Just make sure you follow the tips mentioned above to ensure you stay safe and well taken care of for all your adventures.