Every person or family’s vacation can often look very different from the next. That’s why it’s important to find a vacation or getaway that prioritizes you and your loved ones’ needs, rather than being something that’s recommended by someone just because.
The move, rest, and repeat is something that represents a modern and holistic approach to vacations for those who are active. It focuses on a blend of physical activity with intentional and restorative downtime.
This strategy of vacation aims to prevent burnout, improve long-term well-being, and allow travelers to return to their homes, truly recharged and reset for everyday life to resume.
Move – Integrating activity
The goal with movement is that it’s not necessarily about following a rigid and intense workout plan. Instead, it’s about incorporating movement that makes you feel good and enhances your experience of a new place.
With that being said, think about active sightseeing, perhaps swapping bus tours for walking, cycling, or running to explore new destinations in this new place.
Make use of nearby hiking trails at campgrounds and RV sites. Think about how you could get the most out of hotel gyms, pools, and nearby hiking trails. Take the stairs and opt for walking tours where possible.
Your morning routines should start the day with a short but high-intensity workout that helps boost your energy, freeing up the rest of the day for leisure. Walk or bike to dinner, rather than taking a taxi.
Rest – Active recovery and strategic downtime
Rest in this context is not just doing nothing at all. It’s a proactive recovery tool that helps to manage physical and mental energy.
With that being said, consider active recovery by balancing intense activity days with low-intensity movement. This could be going swimming, doing a bit of stretching, or doing yoga.
Engaging in activities that calm the mind, from listening to music to reading and spending time in nature, are all great ways to bring more of that strategic downtime into your vacations.
Use your break from work routines to fix the lack of sleep you might be getting and improve your mood as well as your cognitive function.
It’s also a good idea to schedule in downtime so that your day-to-day routine offers some time for that spa treatment or quiet reading time in your favorite part of the home.
Repeat – Sustainability and life integration
The ultimate goal is to create what is a sustainable cycle that brings the benefits of the vacation back into your daily life, rather than returning more exhausted than when you left.
Think about the micro-adventures that offer you shorter but more frequent tips rather than a long, stressful journey where you need to keep up your energy levels.
It’s always good to revisit healthy habits and use the time away to help solidify some routines that can be maintained once you get home.
Why does this approach to vacations work
This approach to vacations works effectively because it provides balanced benefits from stress reduction to mental health and physical health improvements.
It provides higher quality experiences, as well as delivering scientific backing that shows combining movement and rest helps to restore your energy tank.
This year, make your vacations a move, rest, and repeat approach and notice the difference it makes to your health and wellbeing.
