Vacations. I LIVE FOR THEM. And I’m pretty sure you do too. (You’re so impressed with how well I know you now, right?) But, while vacations are awesome, they can also be stressful when you’re trying to achieve health goals. Luckily there are lots of techniques you can use to set you up for success while traveling.
I have three suggestions to share with you today.
Visualize.
Visualize.
Visualize
Yes, I am 100% serious about these being my suggestions. Allow me to explain. Once you’re on your trip, it can be hard to break your chain of thought regarding food and exercise. Your brain is already on vacation! It doesn't want to start planning now! With visualization, you're preparing for the tough situations ahead of time a.k.a. while you're still in a productive state of mind. You're thinking clearly about your health and your goals and that will make all the difference. The way you think has a huge impact on your feelings and consequently, your actions.
While there are many ways to incorporate visualization into your day, I want to focus on three of them.
1. CREATE A VISION BOARD
Before you leave, create a vision board for the trip. What do you want your vacation to look like? How do you want to feel while you’re away? I want you to physically MAKE a vision board, not just think about what you’d put on a vision board if you were to make one. Look for pictures in magazines or online, create a Pinterest board, or make a collage you can set as the wallpaper on your phone as a reminder while you’re away. Create an image of how you want your trip to be. Include the things that are most important to you (and this can 100% include pina coladas). This will get your brain in the right mindset to live out those types of experiences for you. Visualization is most effective when you use multiple senses, so light a tropical smelling candle and listen to some beachy music while you work! Have fun putting together something that inspires and excites you for the fun memories you'll create rather than stressing out about how to keep everything balanced.
2. DAILY MEDITATION
While on vacation, take a few minutes each morning for meditation. Visualize each day as it begins. Spend time thinking through what challenges may arise and how you want to handle them. This is also a good time to remind yourself of some tactics for enjoying foods without going overboard (setting a 3-bite rule, remembering that nothing is off limits forever, you're in control of your choices, be mindful while eating, ENJOY your food, eat slowly, etc.). When you’re sitting at a table surrounded by people ordering copious desserts, it can be hard to remember these ideas but if you set your intention at the beginning of each day, it becomes easier to make the choices you truly desire.
3. WRITE A MANTRA
In case this is new to you, a mantra is a phrase that you repeat over and over, normally used as part of meditation or prayer. Use your mantra as something you repeat to yourself when you come upon a hard moment. You could even create a couple different ones to use in varying circumstances. When writing a mantra, it helps to think about what you value and how your health can affect those things. For example, you could say, "I value time with my family and creating new memories. Eating healthy will give me the energy to enjoy this time I have". Make your mantra personal so it speaks directly to you. Who knows better what you need to hear than you?
FINAL TIP
Most importantly enjoy your trip! Making healthy choices is a lifestyle, not a prison sentence. Listen to your body and enjoy the foods that you eat. Participate in active and fun activities (but also sit by the pool). It's all about moderation!
As we know, "life is to be enjoyed, not just endured".
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