Like many things in 2020, vacations may look a little different. Although lengthy, faraway trips may be out of the question, days off and socially distant escapes of some form are still allowed and encouraged. But what happens if your form of vacation doesn’t quite match up with your trip buddy’s? As a fitness editor and someone who typically spends most of the year training for races, I usually don’t take too many rest days, even while on vacation. What’s more, I’ve been in the situation before where my vacation partner has no interest in my early morning 5K.
Although it’s unrealistic, and frankly silly, to expect anyone to alter their R&R time for me, I have run into a few hiccups when lines get crossed and pages just don’t match up. Luckily, these four tricks have always come to my rescue and kept both traveling parties happy.
Be Open With Your Intent
This is my biggest tip: always let someone know where your head is with travel. It may sound silly, but if one of you thinks your days will start at 7 a.m. with breakfast and the other thinks the day will start with a run or online class, things could get a little messy. If you’re the one who is planning on allocating some time to fitness, talking about what you want to do and how long it usually takes is helpful to your travel buddy so they can know what they’re getting into — chances are they won’t mind in the slightest, but it’s always good to be upfront.
Talk About Your Schedule
Depending on where you’re going, you may have a strict schedule you want to adhere to, which is why bringing up your workout plans ahead of time is so essential. Discuss how much time you intend to devote to working out, the time of day that is ideal for you, and how it will or will not affect your partner’s plans. Earlier this year when I was traveling with a friend overseas, we sat down and plotted exactly which days were going to be early morning adventures together and which weren’t, that way I knew which days she wanted to sleep in so I could reserve those for my workouts. It may sound minor, but if we hadn’t done this, there could have been some serious wires crossed and I could’ve potentially caused my friend to miss out on an activity she wanted to do simply because I was working out instead. This allowed us to keep the schedule we wanted and enjoy our time together, without my ever worrying about when to squeeze in a workout.
Pack Light
I’d venture to say this should be a rule of thumb for travel in general. After you pack your suitcase, pause and take out two pieces. But when it comes to traveling with workout gear, the key is keeping it light and versatile. Choose tops that can double as street clothes and leggings that can be reworn and go from workouts to dining out, seamlessly. I opt for a pair of simple and sleek leggings, like the UA Meridian Leggings ($70), which can be worn with a sports bra for a quick jog or pair with a longer tunic for hiking or sightseeing.
Make Adjustments Together
Neither of you should have to alter your plans so the other can get their dream relaxation time, but a little flexibility on both ends can go a long way. I’ve learned that traveling with family or significant others can be a little easier than traveling with friends or bigger groups, but at the end of the day, a little flexibility from all parties can make a big difference. Perhaps you want to go on a long outdoor run but your partner wants to go out for coffee at the cute shop they spotted on Instagram. Instead of you waking up extra early or your partner sitting around waiting for you, look for compromises like meeting at the coffee shop after your run. Because at the end of the day, everyone travels differently and what relaxes one person may not relax another. And no one should be made to feel bad for how they want to spend their time.
Ultimately, I’ve found that making fitness a part of my life regularly has made it a whole lot easier to incorporate into my travels as a routine rather than a chore or a nuisance to my friends.