Last week, I wrote that one of my goals for 2014 is to help the traveler with a Move More Challenge. This challenge will be to help travelers become more active as they are out and about. To read about the challenge, click here.
Move More Challenge: Start!
For the first step in our Move More Challenge, I want to encourage people to just start. The holidays are now behind us and people are getting back on the road for travel. The New Year is far enough behind us now that many people have already started to fade in their exercise resolutions for the new year. So, how do you start moving more?
1) Schedule Your Moving Time
You will never walk or run while on the road if you do not schedule it! If you traveling for business, you have everything else schedule – why not schedule some miles for yourself? Before you leave on a trip, look at what time you have available on the road. Even if your schedule looks impossible, you can always find sometime in there to carve out for some activity time. Many people like to unwind at the end of a long day on the road by watching the news, sports, shows, etc. Every hotel with a fitness center of any worth at all has televisions in the center if not in the treadmill itself. Just put some walking/running shoes on and walk on the treadmill while you watch whatever you choose. The important thing at this point is just to be moving – the speed/pace does not matter.
Schedule your time for activity!
Personal Plan
When I am traveling, I know my best shot at getting a workout in on a busy day is the first thing in the morning. I have had trips where I had to leave my house for the airport at 4:30AM and would be traveling until midnight that same night. I know there is no way in the world that I am going to have a desire to run at the end of the day! So, that means starting my run at 3AM. Does that sound fun? NO! But, it ensures that I get my workout in and also that I feel a lot better throughout the day of traveling. That is always my schedule whenever I will be flying with a flight that is at least 4 hours – this way I know I can get some rest on the plane for getting up early.
2) Skip Transportation
If you have enough of a layover in your airports, opt to walk between terminals instead of taking the trains/trams. I love Detroit and Chicago for this as they are quite scenic along the way. Atlanta is pretty good as well with LA not being that good at all! Either way, just plan on walking past the train and walking to your terminal. This can add a lot of steps to a day that might otherwise be just standing on a train or sitting on a plane.
Skip the train and walk!
Another option is when you are at your hotel. If you are on a high floor, start taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Sure, you will be sacrificing a few minutes of your time but walking stairs is one of the best ways to properly raise your heart rate for exercise.
Yet another way is to forgo the taxi or shuttle if your commute is only a short distance. Not only will you arrive at the office/meeting/whatever having just enjoyed the great outdoors and sunshine for a few minutes, but you will feel a lot better throughout the day as you sit if you have started the day by walking.
3) Set a Goal
This does not have to be a “where I want to be by 2015” type goal. Start small with a goal like “I want to walk for 15 minutes each day next week”. This is essential to accomplishing this task or else you will just let it slide. If you are already a veteran runner, then set a more challenging goal for yourself like adding speed workouts into your time when you are on the road. Many times, it is difficult to get intense workouts in while traveling. If you set a goal to include them in your travels, it will make you much more award and focused on doing it. Yes, it may leave you even more tired and exhausted at the end of the day, but that just means you will sleep better!
