Retirement can finally give you enough time to take trips that once had to fit around work schedules and limited vacation days. Yet a week of sightseeing may demand much more from your body than an ordinary week at home, especially when each day brings more walking and fewer chances to follow your normal routine.
You can prepare your body for retirement travel by following these practical suggestions to build stamina, move comfortably, and handle busy sightseeing days with more confidence.
Thinking about how to prepare your body for retirement travel can make those busy days easier to manage. You do not need an intense fitness plan before every vacation, but preparing for the physical demands of your itinerary can leave you with more energy to enjoy the reason you traveled in the first place.
Start With the Trip You Have Planned
Physical preparation should match the vacation you will actually take. A cruise with relaxed days at sea may feel very different from a city vacation where you expect to spend hours walking between attractions. Even trips that look easy on paper can include extended airport terminals, stairs in older hotels, or excursions that keep you standing longer than usual.
Review your itinerary several weeks before departure and picture what a typical day might involve. Check whether tours include considerable walking and whether attractions sit up on hills or uneven ground. If several demanding days appear back-to-back, being aware of that will give you time to prepare and may even encourage you to adjust the schedule before you leave.
Build Up Your Walking Gradually
Many vacations involve far more walking than people realize while making their plans. Airports can require long walks between gates, while museums and sightseeing districts may keep you moving for much of the day. Even a leisurely vacation can add considerable distance when you are exploring somewhere new.
If you do not currently walk as much as your trip may require, begin adding distance gradually in the weeks before departure. You might extend a familiar route or spend more time walking during errands. Someone heading to a hilly location can occasionally choose a walking route near their home with an steep incline, so that vacation terrain does not come as a complete surprise.
Notice Which Movements Feel Difficult
Walking distance tells only part of the story, because travel requires your body to move in ways that may not occur as frequently at home. You might step into a tour van, climb a narrow staircase, reach for a bag in an overhead compartment, or stand up repeatedly throughout a long sightseeing day.
These situations can reveal how joint mobility impacts everyday movement when your surroundings require more bending, reaching, or changes in position than your normal routine. Before your trip, notice whether any movements you expect to make regularly already feel difficult. You can then plan around those limitations and avoid learning about them for the first time in the middle of a busy excursion.
If pain or another physical concern could affect your ability to travel comfortably, talk with your health care provider about your plans. Advice that accounts for your health and destination will be more useful than trying to follow a general pre-travel exercise routine which may not suit you.
In some cases, seeing a physical therapist or working with a trainer in your local gym could help you maximize your current abilities, and help you be realistic about what types of activities you can handle on your trips.
As a last resort, do not forget that it is usually possible to alter your itinerary slightly so that you can take less strenuous trails, or rent on-location mobility devices. For example, many zoos and amusement parks have little carts that are available for day rental. They can help you avoid over exerting yourself and ruining your vacation. Be sure to reserve one in advance.
Practice With the Gear You Will Actually Use
Travel can feel different when you add the things you plan to carry. A comfortable neighborhood walk may become more demanding when you wear a small backpack or carry a day bag for several hours. Make sure you carry these items in your own neighborhood before you plan to carry them on vacation.
Your luggage deserves similar attention. Before departure, make sure you can comfortably move your suitcase through your home and lift it when necessary. Packing lighter may make the journey easier, particularly when your plans include trains or accommodations where you will handle your own luggage.
Test Your Travel Shoes Before Departure
Shoes that feel comfortable for an hour or two may become a problem after an entire afternoon on your feet. Waiting until the first sightseeing day to test new footwear can leave you dealing with discomfort for the rest of the vacation. Be sure to wear them at home with the same socks you plan to use on vacation, too.
Consider the surfaces at your destination when choosing footwear, as well. Cobblestones and steep streets may call for different shoes than you would choose for a resort where most walking takes place on smooth paths.
Prepare for the Journey, Not Just the Destination
The hardest physical part of some vacations begins before you reach the hotel. Long flights and road trips can keep you seated for hours, while large transportation hubs may require considerable walking between periods of inactivity. Make sure you are prepared to handle your planned activities, and seek out help when it is too much for you. For example, most airports offer wheelchair services or golf carts to get you to your gates.
Practice With the Gear You Will Actually Use
Travel can feel different when you add the things you plan to carry. A comfortable neighborhood walk may become more demanding when you wear a small backpack or carry a day bag for several hours. Make sure you carry these items in your own neighborhood before you plan to carry them on vacation.
Your luggage deserves similar attention. Before departure, make sure you can comfortably move your suitcase through your home and lift it when necessary. Packing lighter may make the journey easier, particularly when your plans include trains or accommodations where you will handle your own luggage.
Test Your Travel Shoes Before Departure
Shoes that feel comfortable for an hour or two may become a problem after an entire afternoon on your feet. Waiting until the first sightseeing day to test new footwear can leave you dealing with discomfort for the rest of the vacation. Be sure to wear them at home with the same socks you plan to use on vacation, too.
Consider the surfaces at your destination when choosing footwear, as well. Cobblestones and steep streets may call for different shoes than you would choose for a resort where most walking takes place on smooth paths.
Prepare for the Journey, Not Just the Destination
The hardest physical part of some vacations begins before you reach the hotel. Long flights and road trips can keep you seated for hours, while large transportation hubs may require considerable walking between periods of inactivity. Make sure you are prepared to handle your planned activities, and seek out help when it is too much for you. For example, most airports offer wheelchair services or golf carts to get you to your gates.
If you build up your stamina in advance, bring along the right shoes and other gear, and are realistic about what you can handle, your trip will be a lot more fun.
Post and Photo credit: Logical Positions
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