Photo Credit: Moyan_Brenn via Flickr.com
A recent American Express survey showed that over 50% of Americans are planning on taking a summer vacation this year. If you fall into this category, it is better to plan sooner, rather than later. Planning your summer vacation NOW will provide you with more benefits than you may realize. Take it from our friend Tracy Benham, who will be Cycling the Silk Road with Tourd’Afrique. She has some great advice to make your summer vacation the best one yet.
R.A.S.S
Relaxation, Adventure, and Sight Seeing. Whether hiking in the Colorado Rockies, scuba diving in the Bahamas, or biking the famous Silk Road in China, be sure your vacation incorporates new experiences as well as experiences you know you love- like relaxing on the beach in that new bikini.
Why the focus on adventure? By making sure you plan a trip that invokes a sense of adventure, you’ll build anticipation and give yourself a ‘get your butt in gear’ mentality.
Anticipation Builds Motivation in your Workout
Pre-vacation stress is a common excuse to postpone planning a trip; this doesn’t have to be the case. Book your trip, and have the arrangements in writing so you have nothing to worry about. Anticipating your trip should be half of the fun! A long day at work can be eased by the idea of soaking up sun and sharing an adventure with family or friends.
You’ll want to look, and more importantly, feel your best on vacation. Exercise will get you those results; anticipation will fuel your workouts. Having set plans gives you a deadline to get into shape. If you’re having trouble getting out of bed when the weather is crummy or saying ‘no’ to those sweet indulgences, knowing you will be on a beach in your bathing suit in a two months time should help. Visualize yourself with a better body, feeling healthier and more confident, and make that idea as concrete as those plans you’ve booked.
Making Time in your Busy Schedule
Everyone is busy and struggling for time. We are working to save money, spend time with our families, and get in shape; accomplishing all of these things at once can be overwhelming. Having a big goal like taking the family to the Grand Canyon or skiing in the Swiss Alps will help you to prioritize your day, cut the unproductive behaviors and ensure that you maintain a healthy lifestyle. After all, we always perform better under the pressure of a deadline.
With these tips, make your summer travel plans now and get yourself moving toward an amazing adventure. With that, hitting the gym before (or after) work and cutting unhealthy foods won’t seem so difficult.
Join our friend, Tracy Benham as she Cycles the Silk Road this summer with Tourd’Afrique. “Like” her new TravelFitness Page on Facebook for info on Adventure Travel and Travel Health and tell her where you’re planning on going for your summer vacation!
